Alternative holiday system to start next year

The alternative holiday system, which guarantees another holiday when a national holiday falls on Sunday, will be introduced not only on lunar New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holidays but also on the Children`s Day.

According to the Security and Public Administration Ministry on Tuesday, Chuseok holidays in 2014 fall on September 7-9, Sunday through Tuesday. When the alternative holiday system is introduced next year, September 10 (Wednesday) will become a holiday.

Though many businesses operate a five-day work, Saturday is not a national holiday eligible for alternative holiday system. For example, Chuseok holidays in 2015 fall on September 26-28 (from Saturday through Monday). Under the new system, people don`t have to go to work on the 29th (Tuesday). However, a different criteria is applied only on the Children`s Day. If the day falls on Saturday, the following Monday is a holiday. Children`s Day in 2018 falls on Saturday and in 2019 on Sunday, and people can have day off on the following Monday. The alternative holiday system basically guarantees a holiday when overlapping on legal holidays. But Children`s Day has been excluded for a family-friendly purpose.

The ministry will make a prior announcement of legislation of "Revision of Certain Regulations on National Holidays of Public Offices" on Wednesday. If the bill is confirmed at the end of October, the number of national holidays will increase by 11 days for 10 years from next year. As 2017 Chuseok holidays will overlap with the National Foundation Day, one alternative holiday will be added, which, added with Saturday, Sunday and Hangeul day, will enable people have seven days off in total.

The bill is applied to only public offices. Most companies that follow the public office`s national holiday rules through collective agreement are likely to promote the alternative holiday system. Yet it will take more time for small companies that do not have detailed criteria to introduce the system due to personnel costs.