Notice: Employee Holiday Arrangements for 2024 30/4 and 1/05 Holidays
According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, regarding the schedule for rearranging working days for the 30/4-1/5 holidays in 2024, civil servants, public employees, and employees of state administrative agencies as well as public service units will have a 5-day break. The period from Saturday, April 27, to Wednesday, May 1 will be compensated on Saturday, May 4.
BUSINESSES STRIVE TO ARRANGE HOLIDAYS IN LINE WITH EMPLOYEE PREFERENCES
For the business sector, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs encourages employers to apply the same holiday schedule (April 30 – May 1) for their employees as stipulated for the public sector.
Although not obligated to follow the official holiday schedule, many businesses are considering adhering to it or making appropriate adjustments to ensure employee preferences are met.
Ms. Le Thi Phuong, Deputy Director of Vietnam Airlines Training and Development Joint Stock Company, said that despite being a private enterprise, the company would arrange a continuous holiday in accordance with employee wishes.
The company normally operates on Saturday mornings, so the Monday (April 29) workday will be swapped for working on the following Saturday afternoon. According to Ms. Phuong, while the 30/4 – 1/5 holiday schedule was decided “somewhat hastily,” the company faces no significant challenges and is prepared to reorganize work hours to accommodate employees’ requests for a common holiday period.
On the other hand, Mr. Nguyen The Kha, Director of Dai Sy Trading and Technology Investment Company Limited, believes that businesses will adhere to the agreed-upon workday swap and find solutions to any difficulties.
Mr. Kha stressed that even though the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs’ proposed 30/4 – 1/5 holiday schedule only applies to civil servants and public employees, the company sought employee feedback, and they all expressed a desire for a continuous break to return to their hometowns. As a result, the company is adjusting its holiday schedule to match the government’s.
“The workday swap won’t cause significant disruptions, but it was made a bit too abruptly. Additionally, it will increase labor costs for overtime pay,” Mr. Kha explained.
The representative of this business also stated that the company has always had contingency plans for arranging holidays, whether based on the government’s schedule or individual employee preferences. The company endeavors to meet the needs of the majority of employees.
Currently, the company operates on Saturdays, and according to the schedule, employees will have a 4-day break from Sunday, April 28, to Wednesday, May 1. For Monday, April 29, employees have two options: take unpaid leave or work extra hours during the week to make up for it.
“However, our company typically follows the government’s holiday schedule, and we even extend the break during Tet,” Mr. Khang added.
ENSURING FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES
While the workday swap does not pose significant challenges for businesses, a representative of Dai Sy Trading and Technology Investment Company Limited expressed the private sector’s desire for a fixed annual holiday and Tet schedule.
This would allow companies to prepare and arrange their schedules in advance, facilitating production planning since “no one wants to create unnecessary urgency.”
According to feedback from trade unions operating in several industrial parks and processing zones in Hanoi, these entities are also adjusting their work schedules to align with production orders. Many businesses have arranged for employees to have consecutive 4-5 day breaks, allowing them to rest during the extended holiday, replenish their energy for work, and return to their hometowns to visit their families.
If businesses do not follow the government holiday schedule, two possible 30/4 – 1/5 holiday scenarios will apply. By taking Monday (April 29) off, employees will have a continuous 4-day break from Sunday (April 28) to Wednesday (May 1), with appropriate adjustments made for compensation.
If Monday is not taken as a holiday, employees will have Sundays (April 28), Tuesdays (April 30), and Wednesdays (May 1) off, while Monday is a regular workday.
The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs encourages businesses to ensure full compliance with legal regulations regarding employee benefits, regardless of whether they adopt the public sector holiday schedule or their arrangements based on their specific circumstances. Notably, agreements more favorable to employees are encouraged.
Following the 30/4 – 1/5 holiday, employees will have one final break this year for National Day. This holiday will also last for 4 days from Saturday, August 31, 2024, to Tuesday, September 3, 2024, and will be observed in the public sector.
