(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-07 07:19

The State Council published a draft version of the regulations on paid holidays to solicit public opinions yesterday. Under them, employees who have worked for an organization more than a year will have five paid days off a year. Those who have worked for an employer for 10 years will get 10 days off, and those who have done so for 20 years will get 15 days off.

In 1991, the State Council released a notice requiring government institutions and enterprises to arrange paid holidays for their workers. However, the lack of follow-up measures meant that most people have not been able to enjoy such holidays.

More than 80 percent of the respondents to an online survey said they were seldom able to take advantage of their holiday benefits and had not been compensated for being denied their rightful time off. Quite a few of the respondents said they had often been ordered to work extra hours without being paid, to say nothing of having their paid days off.

That the holiday regulations were draw up in accordance with the specifications of the Labor Law and the Civil Servant Law suggests it is likely the new Labor Law that will take effect in January will kick off a campaign to address violations of the rights and interests of workers.

The regulations also have something to do with the adjustment of the three holiday weeks around Spring Festival, May Day and the National Day. Concentrated sightseeing tours by millions of holidaymakers during these three weeks strain railways, airlines and coach services. Overcrowding at scenic spots has not only compromised the quality of such trips, but also caused pollution and damaged cultural relics.

It has been suggested that the lack of paid holidays for most workers is the main reason why so many choose to travel during the golden weeks, despite the inconveniences they face in transport and poor quality of sightseeing tours.

The regulations stipulate that employers may face penalties if they do not allow their employees to use their paid days off or compensate them for lost holiday time. This should protect right of laborers to enjoy their rightful days off.

If these regulations are adopted, more people will have chance to take paid holidays when they see fit. This will facilitate the adjustment of the golden weeks without reducing the total number of days off and balance the peak and off seasons at many scenic spots.

(China Daily 11/07/2007 page10)