VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly Standing Committee suggested an increase in the country's public holidays at a committee meeting held this morning to discuss the draft amended Labour Code.

One more day should be added to the country's longest and most important holiday – Tet (Lunar New Year), which currently allowed workers to enjoy four days off, committee members said.

"Reality has shown that the working day after every Tet holiday is by no means effective. Why shouldn't we make that day another holiday?," said NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

NA vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is former Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, shared the opinion.

"Viet Nam should have more public holidays," she said, explaining that Vietnamese workers had fewer public holidays than those in most other countries in the region and across the world.

At this time Viet Nam has nine public holidays, including New Year's Day, Hung Kings' day (March 10 on the Lunar Calendar), April 30 (Reunification Day), May 1 (May Day), September 2 (National Day) and four days for Tet.

In comparison, Korea and Singapore have 14 public holidays, Malaysia has 17, and the Philippines has 20 in the region while examples around the globe include 10 in the UK, 13 in Nigeria, and 11 in Sweden and the US.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Phạm Thị Hai Chuyen said her ministry had recognised the need to increase public holidays but no moves had been made so far to turn it into reality.

Ngan expected the issue would be put up for discussion in the draft amended Labour Code.

In addition to public holidays, Vietnamese workers have 12 paid holidays each year.

Viet Nam's Labour Code took effect in 1995 and has been amended three times.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News