Choosing a Tet holiday plan for the year of the Dragon 2024 with the goal of optimizing benefits for employees

On the evening of September 30, at the regular Government press conference in September 2023, in response to a reporter's question about why the Lunar New Year and National Day holidays are not fixed every year, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh explained: The Labor Code stipulates that every year, based on actual conditions, the Prime Minister decides on the Lunar New Year and National Day holidays. Therefore, periodically and annually, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs consults with central ministries and branches for advice.

According to Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh, the Law stipulates that the Lunar New Year holiday is 5 days and the National Day holiday is 2 days. Thus, for National Day, it can be September 1 and 2 or September 2 and 3.

Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh speaks at the press conference.

The Lunar New Year and National Day holiday schedule is not fixed every year, because the Tet holiday is interspersed with weekends (Saturday and Sunday every week), so it is necessary to come up with a plan to seek opinions, with the view that the plan is beneficial to workers and harmonizes the interests of all parties.

“For example, National Day is September 2, but the Law only stipulates that National Day is a 2-day holiday, not specifically September 1-2 or September 2-3. Therefore, every year, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will base on reality to develop the most beneficial plan for employees in enterprises, civil servants and public employees,” the Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated.

Mr. Le Van Thanh added: “Currently, for the 2024 Tet holiday schedule, we have developed a plan and are seeking opinions from relevant ministries, branches and agencies. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will actively listen to opinions. In the first plan, the General Confederation of Labor wants to have a holiday 2-3 days earlier than Tet so that workers can take the initiative to travel home by train. However, some units want to have a holiday 1 day before Tet and then have an additional holiday to combine with the following Saturday and Sunday, to extend it further.

Illustration photo.

With the first option, if we take 2 days off before Tet, we will go to work on Thursday. If we follow the second option, we will take 1 day off before Tet and also take Saturday and Sunday of the following week. We are still collecting opinions but with the view of how to harmonize and best benefit the workers to have a happy Tet holiday."

Regarding this issue, Minister, Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Government Spokesperson also emphasized: "The viewpoint is to choose the most optimal option to ensure everyone has a safe, happy Tet and convenient travel."

Previously, in the draft of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs seeking opinions from ministries and branches to submit to the Prime Minister to propose a plan for the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, the Ministry proposed two options for the holiday, both lasting 7 days, only differing in the starting time of the holiday.

Accordingly, option 1 is that officials, civil servants, and public employees will have 7 days off from Thursday, February 8, 2024 to Wednesday, February 14, 2024 (ie December 29, Quy Mao year to January 5, Giap Thin year). With this option, on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2024, civil servants and public employees will have 2 days off before Tet and 5 days off during Tet (including 5 days off for Lunar New Year and 2 days off in lieu of weekly days off as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 111 of the Labor Code).

Option 2, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also proposed a 7-day holiday but 1 day before Tet and 6 days during Tet. Accordingly, civil servants and public employees will have a holiday from Friday - February 9, 2024 to Thursday - February 15, 2024 (ie December 30, Quy Mao year to January 6, Giap Thin year). With option 2, on the occasion of Lunar New Year, civil servants, public employees and workers will also have 7 days off (including 5 days off for Lunar New Year and 2 days off in lieu of weekly days off, according to regulations in Clause 3, Article 111 of the Labor Code).

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lua-chon-phuong-an-nghi-tet-giap-thin-2024-voi-muc-tieu-toi-uu-loi-ich-cho-nguoi-lao-dong-post266775.html