In recent years, there has been a heated discussion about working hours and paid annual leave systems.
Recently, Fok Qigang, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, put forward a thought-provoking proposal: to enforce paid annual leave and improve the provisions on corporate violations of legal liability.
This topic quickly appeared on the hot search, triggering a heated discussion among the majority of netizens.
Everyone feels that this is not only an issue about rest, but also an important issue related to the security of young labor, the expansion of domestic demand, and the improvement of people's happiness.
Let's first talk about this phenomenon of "no leave", "can't take leave" and "dare not take leave".
In real life, many people have this experience: they are too busy at work and have no time to rest; It is too difficult to ask for leave, for fear of affecting work; Too few vacations and fear of falling behind.
In fact, all kinds of problems point to a core: our working hours and paid annual leave system still need to be improved.
Deputy Huo Qigang's proposal was put forward precisely in response to this core issue. He believes that the connection between the duration of leave and the length of service in the existing annual leave system is too rigid, and the protection of young workers is insufficient. Especially in China's population structure as a whole, the young labor force with less than 10 years of working experience is playing a more important role. They are under great material and mental pressure, and the five days of statutory annual leave often do not guarantee them adequate rest.
Here, we have to mention one word: sustainable development. If workers lack rest for a long time, it will not only affect their physical and mental health, but also affect their productivity and creativity. As a result, the long-term development of the enterprise will also be affected. Therefore, the mandatory implementation of paid annual leave is not only a protection of the rights and interests of employees, but also an investment in the long-term development of enterprises.
Let's talk about the impact of this paid annual leave system on the expansion of domestic demand. As we all know, consumption is an important driving force for economic development. And sufficient rest time can give people more opportunities to consume, travel, and enjoy life. In this way, it will not only improve people's happiness, but also expand domestic demand and promote the formation of a virtuous circle in which consumption and investment promote each other.
The consumption data during the Spring Festival once again shows that more holidays can better stimulate consumption, and if we become a consumer-oriented country, the internal circulation of the economy will be successful.
Of course, some people may be worried: will the mandatory implementation of paid annual leave put a burden on enterprises?
In fact, this worry is unnecessary. Deputy Huo Qigang also took this point into account in his proposal. He believes that it is possible to ensure that enterprises can actively implement this system by improving the provisions on the violation of legal responsibilities by enterprises, strengthening the constraints on the implementation of annual leave by enterprises, and at the same time innovating inspection methods and rewarding and punishing simultaneously.
In addition, Deputy Huo Qigang also mentioned the phenomenon of non-compliance with the standard working hours system in some enterprises. He suggested that the provisions of the existing labor law on the weekly working hours should be strictly implemented, supervision and management should be strengthened, and enterprises should be prohibited from agreeing to cancel the "double rest" of employees. This suggestion has also been supported by the majority of netizens.
So, why do you support Deputy Huo Qigang's proposal so much?
I think this reflects a general social psychology: people want more time off and a better work-life balance. And this desire is actually human nature. After all, rest is for better work, but also for yourself.
At the same time, this suggestion is also in line with the trend of the times. With the progress of society and the improvement of people's living standards, people's requirements for quality of life are also constantly improving. The mandatory implementation of paid annual leave is precisely to meet this demand, so that people have more time to enjoy life, spend time with their families, and pursue their hobbies in addition to busy work.
However, I still have something to say, in fact, it is imperative that all the rights of workers under the labor law (in the broad sense) are put in place, including the current holidays.
At present, these holidays and welfare benefits for workers are implemented in the system and some large private enterprises, but once they reach small and medium-sized private enterprises and small and micro private economies, there are really few people who can get the treatment stipulated in the labor law.
Many workers don't even have social security.
Especially in the new economic models such as takeaway and express delivery, the employees have not even been mixed up as workers.
The labor law has not yet been implemented, in fact, there is really no need to rush forward to increase leave and benefits, otherwise the differences in labor treatment in different groups, industries and fields will become bigger and bigger, the good are better, the bad are worse, and the "gap between the rich and the poor" in labor will become wider and wider.
Of course, any change in the system takes time and effort, and the mandatory implementation of paid annual leave is no exception.
But as long as we work together, call for it together, and promote it together, I believe that this day will come.