Government Shows Reluctance to Expanded Substitute Holiday Law...Re-discussion Scheduled for Tomorrow

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The bill to enact the "Holiday Act," which applies substitute holidays to all public holidays that fall on weekends, has encountered opposition from the government side.

On the afternoon of the 16th, the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee held a bill review subcommittee meeting to discuss whether to process the bill. If this bill is enacted, substitute holidays will also apply to Liberation Day, National Foundation Day, Hangeul Day, and Christmas in the second half of this year, all of which fall on weekends, allowing additional days off.

Under the current law, substitute holidays are only applied to Chuseok, Seollal, and Children's Day among public holidays. Initially, there was no disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties about expanding substitute holidays, so the bill was expected to be processed smoothly. However, the government expressed the position that inter-ministerial consultations are necessary due to many conflicts with existing laws such as labor laws, delaying the bill's processing. There were also criticisms that pushing the bill through as a "speed race" would be unreasonable since it involves enacting a new law rather than amending existing laws.

If the bill is passed during this extraordinary session of the National Assembly, substitute holidays will be applied starting immediately from August 15th, Liberation Day (Sunday) this year. The ruling party has also emphasized this point. The government side reportedly suggested that since the president can effectively decide on the Liberation Day substitute holiday at the Cabinet meeting, "pinpoint application" is possible, and proposed first addressing legal issues. The Administrative Safety Committee plans to hold another bill subcommittee meeting on the morning of the 17th to reconsider the bill.

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