2016年CRI China to Implement 2.5-day Weekend This Summer

 

A number of provinces and municipalities across China, including Hebei, Jiangxi and Chongqing, have issued new policies, calling on companies to create 2.5 day weekends.

Under the plan, government institutions, state-owned companies, joint-ventures and privately-held companies are to be given incentives¹ to allow their workers to take off at noon on Friday before coming back to the office on Monday.

Since being announced in November, the idea has begun gaining traction².

"It's a good thing for us, because we can obviously take more time to relax."

"I think it's a good idea. There are so many people commuting³ on Fridays. The traffic is usually very crowded."

In adopting the policy, the State Council, China's cabinet, says it hopes to create "favorable conditions," to give employees more family time, as well as stimulate⁴ tourism.

Liu Simin, deputy-Secretary General of the Beijing Tourism Society, says having 2.5-day weekend can help satisfy people's desire for more short trips.

However, he notes the new policy is limited in scope.

"Three key points contained in this plan suggest its only a benefit for a certain group of people. Firstly, it's not a rule, but rather a suggestion. Secondly⁵, the plan is conditional⁶. Lastly, it's only applied⁷ to the summer months, rather than all-year round. Because of these stipulations, the coverage⁸ of the 2.5-day weekend is going to be very limited."

Qin Dingbo, vice-Director of Chongqing's Tourism Bureau, notes not every company is going to be required, or allowed, to adopt the 2.5-day weekend structure.

"In implementing⁹ a 2.5 day weekend, companies will still have to comply with China's laws and regulations. This means the program can't effect companies legal obligations, production or overall business. For State organizations and institutions, the extended leave program can be flexible and adjusted to fit the needs of the company so that it doesn't effect efficiency, but can also serve the people."

Under the provisions, a 40-hour work-week is still required, meaning employees who get a 2.5-day weekend are going to have to make up the hours somewhere else during their week.

A nation-wide, two-day weekend policy was first set into law in China in 1995.

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1 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

2 traction   

n.牵引；附着摩擦力

参考例句：

• I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。
• She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤，正在作一个月的牵引治疗。

3 commuting   

交换（的）

参考例句：

• I used the commuting time to read and answer my mail. 我利用上下班在汽车中的时间来阅读和答复给我的函电。
• Noncommuting objects are as real to the mathematicians as commuting objects. 对于数学家来说，不可交换的对象与可交换的对象是一样真实的。

4 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

5 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

6 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

7 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

8 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

9 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句