Should India Have Less Paid Holidays?
By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 07 September 2011, 01:09 IST   |    40 Comments
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Bangalore: When it comes to paid holidays, India and Japan top the list in the Asia-Pacific region. Indians annually enjoy 16 public and 12 statutory holidays, a total of 28 days. However on a global comparison, the economic power house U.S. has the least number of paid leaves which is a reason for their growth factor. Finland, Brazil and France are the champs, guaranteeing six weeks of time off. Organizations in India are trying to boost productivity among employees by granting them more flexibility in seeking leave from work. Some of the country's leading companies are trying to increase their paid leave component as well. "Leave has taken on a different connotation, a way to provide a level of comfort to employees,"said P Dwarkanath, veteran HR professional and Director (human capital).
In India every worker who has worked for 240 days
In India every worker who has worked for 240 days or more during a calendar year is entitled for leaves at the following rate: one day for every 20 days of work performed during the previous calendar year. The use of public holidays is not appropriate in the Indian context when dealing with private establishments. Private establishments must observe national holidays (26 January, 15 August and 2 October) and holidays on major festivals. The average number of such festivals may vary from five to seven. Local variations, depending on the state, are prevalent. "Public holidays tend to be rooted in local tradition or religious beliefs, so it can be difficult to change practices. But with the increasing cultural diversity of the global workforce, there is pressure for greater flexibility around public holidays," said Matthew Hunt, Mercer International Team Principal.

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