The four-day holiday weekend began Thursday, Children's Day, as the government designated May 6 as a temporary holiday following a recommendation by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Especially on May 6, all highway tolls will be exempted and families with more than three people traveling by train will receive a 20 percent discount in ticket prices.
All this is intended to encourage more people to take a trip to help boost lackluster domestic consumption. Given that Korea posted an anemic 0.4 percent economic growth in the first quarter, few can dispute the need to boost the economy by taking another day off. In fact, the government says its designation of Aug. 14 last year as a temporary holiday triggered an economic effect of more than 1.3 trillion won.
Even so, the latest designation of the rare four-day holiday leaves much to be desired.
First and foremost, it comes as a pie in the sky for many employees at small- and medium-sized enterprises. Right after the government decided on the temporary holiday, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business conducted an emergency survey of its 350 members and found that only one third of them would have their employees take May 6 off.
This implies that the temporary holiday will be a special event only for public servants, workers at large companies and banks ― as has been the case so far. There is no question that a large number of our people who are usually doing more work while enduring low salaries are excluded from those enjoying the long holiday.
The government should have prepared for the holiday more calmly after making a decision much earlier. The administration's rough-and-ready decision has aroused lots of complaints among hospitals, most of which have to operate because of reservations for treatment. Some government organs prepared measures to support working parents who won't be able to have the holiday, but confusion was inevitable.
It's a mystery why the government didn't act until the KCCI made a recommendation concerning the temporary holiday. One cannot help but wonder if this might reflect the gridlock in state affairs following the ruling party's stunning defeat in the general election.
Certainly, there is no way to force owners of smaller firms to give an extra holiday to their employees because it is up to them legally. But it is the least duty of the government to enable people who lead difficult lives to take a rest equitably. We hope that the government will come up with viable measures for smaller firms when it designates another temporary holiday next time.
Especially on May 6, all highway tolls will be exempted and families with more than three people traveling by train will receive a 20 percent discount in ticket prices.
All this is intended to encourage more people to take a trip to help boost lackluster domestic consumption. Given that Korea posted an anemic 0.4 percent economic growth in the first quarter, few can dispute the need to boost the economy by taking another day off. In fact, the government says its designation of Aug. 14 last year as a temporary holiday triggered an economic effect of more than 1.3 trillion won.
Even so, the latest designation of the rare four-day holiday leaves much to be desired.
First and foremost, it comes as a pie in the sky for many employees at small- and medium-sized enterprises. Right after the government decided on the temporary holiday, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business conducted an emergency survey of its 350 members and found that only one third of them would have their employees take May 6 off.
This implies that the temporary holiday will be a special event only for public servants, workers at large companies and banks ― as has been the case so far. There is no question that a large number of our people who are usually doing more work while enduring low salaries are excluded from those enjoying the long holiday.
The government should have prepared for the holiday more calmly after making a decision much earlier. The administration's rough-and-ready decision has aroused lots of complaints among hospitals, most of which have to operate because of reservations for treatment. Some government organs prepared measures to support working parents who won't be able to have the holiday, but confusion was inevitable.
It's a mystery why the government didn't act until the KCCI made a recommendation concerning the temporary holiday. One cannot help but wonder if this might reflect the gridlock in state affairs following the ruling party's stunning defeat in the general election.
Certainly, there is no way to force owners of smaller firms to give an extra holiday to their employees because it is up to them legally. But it is the least duty of the government to enable people who lead difficult lives to take a rest equitably. We hope that the government will come up with viable measures for smaller firms when it designates another temporary holiday next time.
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