The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is planning to make everyone happy with the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday schedule.

On the afternoon of September 30, at the regular Government press conference, reporters raised the issue of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs soliciting opinions on two options for the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday.

The reporter asked the Ministry's leaders to explain why every year they have to make a plan for the Lunar New Year holiday and ask for opinions from units, instead of making a unified regulation for many years?

Responding to this content, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh said this is a good question but not the first one to be raised, but has been raised for many years.

The Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs explained the legal basis, according to the Labor Code, every year based on actual conditions, the Prime Minister decides on the Lunar New Year and National Day holidays.

"Thus, the law assigns the Prime Minister to regulate this content. Therefore, annually, the Ministry of Staff advises the Prime Minister to regulate the Lunar New Year and National Day holiday schedule based on the opinions of ministries, branches and localities," Mr. Thanh stated.

Mr. Thanh added that the law currently stipulates that the Lunar New Year holiday is 5 days and the National Day holiday is 2 days. These days off can be before or after the Lunar New Year and National Day.

According to Mr. Thanh, the Lunar New Year and National Day holidays are not fixed every year, and the weekly holidays are alternated between Saturday and Sunday, so it is necessary to come up with a plan to choose the most suitable and optimal plan, beneficial to the workers or the majority of units and businesses, ensuring harmony of interests for all subjects.

"How can state agencies and public service units, especially employees and businesses, have appropriate holiday schedules?" Mr. Thanh said.

He also gave an example of National Day, the law stipulates an extra day off but it is not fixed on September 1 or September 3, so the proposing agency will have to consider and calculate to come up with the most beneficial solution for workers, with workers at the center.

He stated that the ministry cannot decide on any option but often has to come up with the optimal and specific option based on practical experience, asking for opinions from ministries, branches and units, and at the same time synthesizing to come up with the most optimal option.

Along with that, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs targets cadres, civil servants and public employees, so the organization of collecting opinions is also concise, simple, and avoids waste.

As for businesses, the plan is more open, according to which, businesses can decide on their own holiday schedule based on the schedule proposed by the ministry, depending on the nature of their production, such as having many workers away from home or having a specific work schedule.

But according to Mr. Thanh, notice must be given at least 30 days in advance so that workers can proactively buy train and bus tickets.

Regarding the 2024 Tet holiday plan, he said the ministry is seeking opinions from relevant ministries and agencies, so the ministry is actively listening to those units to come up with the best plan.

Mr. Thanh added that according to the law, the Lunar New Year holiday will be 5 days, but the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor wants to take an earlier holiday.

Specifically, take 2 to 3 days off in advance so that workers can return to their hometowns, then take another 2 to 3 days off. But there are units that want to take one day off, then take a longer break after Tet because it is tied to Saturday and Sunday of the following week.

"For example, in 2024, we can take two days off before Tet and go to work on Thursday. Each person has a different wish. Currently, the Ministry is consulting with ministries, branches and localities. When the plan is put forward, there will be the most optimal plan, which may not be suitable for everyone, but is the most optimal, so that people can have a happy Tet holiday," Mr. Thanh added.