Romanians may have two extra free days this year, on May 2 and 3, after the official Labor Day on May 1 - already a national holiday - and before Orthodox Easter. May 1 will be on a Wednesday, and the Government will decide in its meeting today (March 6) whether to grant the following Thursday and Friday free days too. This will create a long vacation, as Orthodox Romanians celebrate Easter on May 5 this year.

The Government will discuss the proposal today, which as lobbied for by tourism associations keen for the sector to cash-in from the extra long weekend, as Romanians usually flock to tourism resorts around May 1. The beginning of May is traditionally the kick off season on the Romanian seaside, with many tourists choosing to spend May 1 in one of the resorts, even if the weather is not yet very warm.

Even if the days off are granted by law, private companies can choose not to give their employees the days off, in which case they should compensate the work time during an official holiday.

With 11 public holidays a year, Romanians are around the middle in the world rankings and could soon have an extra day, following parliamentary approval of Saint Andrew's day as a national holiday, which is likely to be enforced in 2013. Romanians are free on January 1 and 2, have two free days on Easter, on May 1 for Labor Day, on June 3 and 4 for Rusalii (also a religious holiday), on August 15 for the celebration of St. Mary, on December 1- the National Day and on December 25 and 26.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: sxc.hu)