http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130411-415050.html
Singapore employees will get four long weekends next year, one fewer than this year's. However, if they strategically apply for six days of annual leave and take a day off-in-lieu, they can more than double their number of long weekends to 10.
This is because there are three public holidays on Thursdays (Labour Day, Deepavali and Christmas Day), one holiday on a Tuesday (Vesak Day), one on a Wednesday (New Year's Day) and one on a Saturday (National Day).
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) stated that for public holidays falling on Saturdays, an employee who is not required to work on Saturdays is entitled to claim a day off or compensation in lieu of that public holiday.
This is provided the worker is covered by the Employment Act.
The four long weekends next year cover the public holidays for Chinese New Year, Good Friday, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji. They are each three days long.
For instance, workers can get five rest days by taking two days' leave on Jan 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday) as New Year's Day falls on a Wednesday next year.
As National Day falls on a Saturday next year, employees could get a day off-in-lieu. If their employers approve, the day off could be cleared on Aug 8 (Friday) so that they get to enjoy a long weekend.
Workers could extend their three-day long weekend during Chinese New Year to four days by taking a day off-in-lieu on Jan 30. This is because the second day of Chinese New Year is on a Saturday and workers could be given a day off-in-lieu for that.
Tentatively, Deepavali next year will fall on Oct 23 (Thursday). But MOM said it will have to confirm this date against the Indian almanac when it is available.
For Mr Yu Jin, a football-league organiser, the fewer official long weekends is a downer.
He said: "We can't control (which dates) the holidays fall on, but we can take advantage of our leave dates to create more long weekends."
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