Trade Union explains proposal to add 2 more holidays on National Day

Vietnam's Trade Union once proposed adding three more days off for National Day, but the revised Labor Code in 2019 only added one day when passed.

The 13th Congress of the Trade Union held its final session on the morning of December 3, gathering eight recommendations from workers nationwide, through the Vietnam Trade Union, to the Party and State leaders. Among them, it was recommended that competent authorities consider adding two days off on the occasion of National Day, from September 2 to 5 every year, so that workers have the opportunity to take their children to school.

Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, held a press conference after the Trade Union Congress on December 3. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Speaking to the press after the congress, Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, explained that in 2019, when the Union participated in amending the Labor Code, it proposed adding 3 more days off for National Day.

The number of official holidays in Vietnam at that time was too few, only 10 days, while other countries in the region had 15-16 days. However, when the law was passed, the number of official holidays was only increased by one, before or after the National Day (September 1 or September 3) depending on the year chosen by the Government.

Four years later, the Union persisted with this goal by continuing to propose two more days off. Mr. Hieu said that if added, the holiday would last until September 5 - the day when all people send their children to school. "For workers, especially shift workers who work directly in production, taking their children to school on the first day of school is a dream," he said.

A representative of the Vietnam Trade Union said that once when meeting with industrial park workers, a female worker cried and said that for several years she had not been able to take her child to the opening ceremony because she was busy with the assembly line in the factory.

"Asking for a day off or changing work schedules for civil servants is within our capabilities. As for assembly line workers, especially in foreign-invested enterprises, it is very difficult to change shifts or positions because it will cause the entire assembly line to follow suit," said Mr. Hieu, adding that when the quality of life improves, the spiritual life and rest of workers must be focused on. Therefore, adding more official holidays in the year is necessary.

The streets of the capital are filled with flags on National Day 2019. Photo: Giang Huy

The union does not agree with the view that "taking too many days off reduces productivity" because people only determine part of productivity, the rest requires businesses to invest in machinery, science and technology, and innovate management methods.

"Looking at many countries, like China, having a whole week off for National Day is also a practice that Vietnam can refer to," he said, adding that the Union will continue to make recommendations to all levels and sectors about this content in the latest revision of the Labor Code, or research agencies about issuing urgent regulations, including increasing the number of holidays and reducing official working hours per week.

VnExpress 's online survey of nearly 7,200 votes showed that 76% of readers agreed to have 2 more days off for National Day, 4% disagreed, and 20% thought that 2 more days should be added for Tet.

Vietnam has 11 official holidays including New Year (1 day), Lunar New Year (5 days), Hung Kings Commemoration Day (1 day), Reunification Day and International Labor Day (2 days), National Day (2 days). According to the union, the number of holidays in Vietnam is about 5-6 days lower than the average in Southeast Asia and the world.

Hong Chieu

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