As the May Day holidays approach, Chinese netizens are upset about the country's unique arrangements for nationwide statutory holidays which usually allow people to have several consecutive days off but then require them to work on the weekend before or after the holidays.
Some observers urged revocation of the policy of adjusted working days, while at the same time calling for the country to humanize the policy of statutory holidays. They said that paying more attention to people's needs could stimulate the economy and consumption.
In fact, it has become normal at times of public holidays for netizens to voice their annoyance toward the arrangements.
According to the arrangements, on paper, it looks like people will be given five days off during the upcoming holidays, but when the extra working days are factored in, there is just one day off.
Many netizens complained about similar plans for the Qingming Festival holiday earlier in April, with several consecutive weekends turning into single days off, so there have been "six-day work weeks" before and after the holidays, The Paper reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, some netizens even cited Chinese singer Na Ying's comment on adjusting holidays back in 2013. "My Children have to go to school for seven or eight days in a row, which is really tiring... Life rhythm being disrupted is quite similar to hormonal imbalance. Can the policymakers who set the holidays seriously consider our lives?"
Many netizens expressed their desire to have normal holidays and weekends off. Furthermore, some netizens expressed their hope for longer holidays without the need for adjustments.
