What is the optimum number of holidays?

MALAYSIA and Switzerland have the most public holidays in the year. This is understandable since both countries are multicultural, with the annual festivals of each component culture claiming national significance with a day off.

Where this is so, ethnic groups should not unduly clamour for more public holidays to commemorate their various cultural traditions.

In Sabah alone, there are some three dozen ethnic groups, although most of these are minority communities defined by language.

Currently, Malaysia has 16 public holidays at national level each year. The Government is concerned that competitiveness might be lost, and is reportedly working to reduce the number.

Compounding the situation are federal and state occasions that might merit a public holiday. The point is that a sense of a maximum has been reached, and a need is felt to trim the total enjoyed by employees.

This is unlikely to be received favourably by workers in any sector. The Government has said there are other ways to mark a festive occasion with respect, and it should identify what these might agreeably be in place of a day off.

The 16 annual national public holidays are unlikely to be cut by many days. Reducing the year's total by a few days therefore is not going to improve productivity significantly, which means other more pertinent issues are involved.

For example, what is more important than the number of public holidays throughout the year is the attitude and aptitude of workers in their job. Employees who are better motivated produce and contribute more to the economy and the nation.

And ironically, one of the motivating factors has long been holiday entitlements. While the total number of public holidays nationwide may not be increased, reducing it is another matter again.

There may be other ways to compensate workers for not taking a day off on what might otherwise be a public holiday.

But again, that compensation could cost something by way of production, if not productivity.

Ultimately, what matters most for productivity are training, supervision, job incentives, resource allocation, cost ceilings and management.

And on these, how well are the managers and entrepreneurs themselves doing to safeguard productivity?