SINGAPORE: There are no plans to gazette Thaipusam as a public holiday.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam made this clear in a written answer to Parliament.

He explained that there are currently 11 public holidays in Singapore.

The days were chosen in consultation with the major religious groups and "represent a careful balancing of the interests amongst the various groups in our society".

"In the past there have been requests to deem other significant days or festivals observed by various groups of Singaporeans as public holidays, such as Lao-Tzu's Birthday for the Taoists, Thaipusam and the Hindu New Year for the Hindus and Women's Day."

He added that there is a long-accepted, common understanding with regards to the number and configuration of public holidays and that "it would be sensible to maintain this".

Mr Tharman said an increase in the number of public holidays would raise business costs and affect Singapore's economic competitiveness.

"This was a major consideration when the current 11 public holidays were first decided on, and remains relevant today," said Mr Tharman.

- CNA/de

He explained that there are currently 11 public holidays in Singapore.

Add one more, just nice, 12 days.

One day off for each month. 

Mr Tharman said an increase in the number of public holidays would raise business costs and affect Singapore's economic competitiveness.

Can show me the calculations? Last time stop at 2 good for economy, now more babies good for economy. At least show some evidence lah. This type of bullshit any fucker also can talk.

But one more day off means one more day of shopping, can boost consumer spending.

traffic jam still dun public holiday

He only care for his GDP. HOlidy ERP off. Cannot make money. Thaman u go eat shit. already work till 62 like cow. Now holiday also dun want to give. What competition. US also relax. China National day 1 week> CNY 2 weeks. So u mean they lag behind.

Make no sense. What kind of logic is that????

But this year is leap year, so got 1 extra day leh!

11 holidays are enough.1 more holiday will result in no handphone to use as holidays are soaking handphones days.Go figure.

China has 7 legal holidays in a year, including New Year's Day, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day.

At the festivals, all Chinese people will be on vacation. The table below provides detailed information of 2012 / 2013 public holidays. Hope it can help you make a good plan of your China tour...

Besides the 7 legal festivals on which all people can enjoy days off, Chinese people celebrate four other festivals on which some people have a half day off - Women's Day, Youth Day, Children's Day and Army Day. Many other festivals and anniversaries are celebrated even without days off, such as Arbor Day and Teachers' Day.

Among all the Chinese holidays, there are two 'Golden Weeks' - Spring Festival Week and National Day Week. Both of the two holidays last for three days but by combining two weekends with them, people benefit from seven consecutive days off.

During these two weeks, most people go out and enjoy themselves in a great variety of ways with a resultant boost to the economy, hence the nickname 'Golden Week'. Hotel rooms, train tickets or air tickets will definitely be in great demand then.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/public-holiday.htm

I think Singapore should also have "golden week".

He explained that there are currently 11 public holidays in Singapore.

I think some of the public holidays in Singapore should be struck off. We must see which days should be public holiday and which shouldn't be public holiday.

The days were chosen in consultation with the major religious groups and "represent a careful balancing of the interests amongst the various groups in our society".

Are the holidays balanced or not in the first place?

Some groups have one day, others have two. Why is that so? I think there is too much emphasis on certain holidays. 

  New Year's Day
Sunday*
1 January 2012   Chinese New Year
Monday
23 January 2012
Tuesday
24 January 2012   Good Friday
Friday
6 April 2012  

Labour Day
Tuesday
1 May 2012

Vesak Day 
Saturday
5 May 2012

National Day
Thursday
9 August 2012

Hari Raya Puasa
Sunday*
19 August 2012

Hari Raya Haji 
Friday
26 October 2012

Deepavali 
Tuesday
13 November 2012**

Christmas Day
Tuesday
25 December 2012

http://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/employment-rights-conditions/leave-and-holiday/Pages/PublicHolidays2012.aspx

think we don't need National Day. Too much foreigners might feel offended.

so many holidays for what...

Even M'sia, not all states gazette it as a PH

like this our labour day 1 week holiday period liao

Muslims two days, Buddhists one day, christians two days, Hindus one day. 

Religion in Singapore^[1]
   
  Buddhism

33.3%

Christianity

18.3%

No religion

17.0%

Islam

14.7%

Taoism

10.9%

Hinduism

5.1%

Others

0.7%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Singapore

During public holidays, people can go shopping more, families can spend more quality time together with their kids, people can socialize with each other more, can have more R&R time with friends.

Clearly, all these are undesirable because we need to grow GDP at all costs.

GDP vs public holidays?

Should add one more, like the President's Birthday.

Everyone sure happy one. Even those who did not vote for him.

the day angle7030 and me get married - i will declare sg 1 big day holiday

Make sure ah.  As long as you all one day get married. Even to different people doesn't matter.

i giv angel 1k dowrry - the symbolic number - the sign of a 'talent'

For china CNY holiday is 2weeks for taiwan is 1week... Why can't we have it? why adding 1 more day as a holiday is so hard...

Originally posted by Emoslacker:

For china CNY holiday is 2weeks for taiwan is 1week... Why can't we have it? why adding 1 more day as a holiday is so hard...

Because you are not in china or taiwan.

Suck it up.

may be they will declare a 10 day holidays when one old man ....

why leh, racist huh?