Weeklong holidays needed to refresh workers

A recent State Council document says employers can "arrange working hours for employees according to their actual conditions so that some of them (employees) could rest on Friday afternoons and make short trips during longer ... weekends".

Many media outlets have interpreted this as "the State encouraging a two-and-half-day weekend" for employees and, taking this to be true, some analysts have predicted a boost in local tourism.

Such an interpretation is more like speculation. The fact is, the State Council document is not binding on employers and gives no hint that the authorities intend to make an extended weekend mandatory. It is up to the employers to decide whether or not they will give their employees an additional half-day off. A closer look at the State Council document shows it is a recommendation; it doesn't say whether the half-day leave should be additional either.