COUNTRY

Employment contracts in Thailand can be verbal or written. However, a written employment contract that specifies all the terms and conditions of employment is recommended and, in practice, most employment contracts in Thailand are written. Employment contracts can be for a fixed-term or an indefinite period, although there is a limit on the duration of fixed-term contracts.

The normal work period in Thailand is eight hours a day and 48 hours per week but can be less for employees who perform dangerous tasks or work that might harm their health. Overtime is limited to 36 hours a week. Employees who perform overtime are entitled to additional pay starting at 150% of their normal wage.

Employees generally receive up to 30 days of paid sick leave a year in Thailand. Employees must provide a medical certificate after missing three days of work due to illness.

Female employees receive up to 98 days of fully paid maternity leave in Thailand, including weekends, with 45 days paid by the employer and the remaining 45 days paid by the social security fund. There is no paternity leave in Thailand.

Employers in Thailand are not required to pay employees bonuses but may choose to do so. A 13th month bonus or performance-based bonus is common in Thailand.

Employees receive six days of paid annual leave in Thailand after one year of service. Employees with less than one year of service receive leave on a pro rata basis. Eligible employees may also be entitled to 120 days of monkhood or Hajj leave.

In Thailand, the public holidays are:

• New Year’s Day

• Makha Bucha Day

• Chakri Day

• Songkran Day

• Labor Day

• Coronation Day

• Visakha Bucha Day

• Asarnha Bucha Day

• M. Queen’s Birthday

• Chulalongkorn Day (Rama V Day)

• M. King’s Birthday

• Constitution Day

• New Year’s Eve

Thailand provides universal healthcare through social security for private sector employees resident in Thailand. Employers often elect to provide supplementary healthcare.

An employment contract in Thailand terminates at the end of the contract period if the employment contract is for a fixed term. An employer may dismiss an employee without providing notice or paying severance for cause or misconduct. Otherwise, the employer must provide notice. The notice period in Thailand is based on the employee’s pay interval, up to three months. Severance is between 30 and 300 days depending on the employee’s length of service.