Let everyone feel the joy of paid vacation

Updated: 2014-09-01 08:05

By Fu Jing(China Daily)

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Moreover, during my recent summer break in Sichuan province, the owner of a private company told me that he had decided to allow all of his about 200 employees to go on paid vacations from this year. Why? In response, he said that after taking a 10-day break early this year, during which he traveled in Europe without thinking anything about work, he found himself more energized than ever. Realizing the importance of taking a break from work, he decided to allow his employees to go on paid vacations.

He, however, said that his generation had been taught that work is the golden rule of excellence, and the Chinese work culture still encourages people to do extra work without expecting any payment. Moreover, some employers still believe granting employees paid leave is a matter of their discretion and has nothing to do with workers' welfare. A few even believe that vacations are a luxury, not fit for ordinary families.

As a result, only about half of Chinese workers enjoy paid vacations, according to a recent government survey. This is in sharp contrast to European reality. Chinese society has been on the fast track since the launching of reform and opening-up in the late 1970s. But now that the country's leadership has decided to make a slower pace of development the "new normal", it is time to make paid vacations a rule rather than an exception. China and the rest of world will benefit from such a move, because it will increase productivity and boost the tourism industry.

But since vacations are more of a family affair, schools have to give more breaks to students so that families can have multiple choices to plan their holidays to avoid the peak travel season of Spring Festival and National Day holidays.

And of course, the government should take measures to ensure that everyone, from top executives to unskilled workers, get to enjoy this benefit. The government is already in a position to ensure that every citizen lives a more meaningful life. It should start to make that a reality.

The author is China Daily's chief correspondent in Brussels. Contact him at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

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