Children’s Day might become a legal day off in Romania

Romania might have a new legal day off, namely June 1, when the International Children's Day is celebrated. A group of MPs from all political parties have submitted a draft bill to the Senate to make June 1 a legal day off. In the explanatory memorandum, the MPs say that the parents in Romania need to spend more time with their children. “Most kindergartens and primary schools in Romania organize events to celebrate the little ones on Children’s Day, and the kids have a role in these performances,” reads the memorandum, cited by local Mediafax. The parents’ absence from these events has negative psychological implications in children’s development. The children need their parents’ support when performing in these events as they come with a high emotional charge and stress, the bill's initiators explained. The MPs added that not all employers are willing to allow parents to take days off on Children’s Day. In 2016, Romania has a total of 12 legal days off but five of them are during weekends and only seven are working days. January 1 and January 2 were days off, as well as the Day of the Romanian Principalities Unification celebrated on January 24. The next days off are May 1 and May 2, when the Orthodox Easter is also celebrated in Romania. This year Easter comes on the same date as Labor Day while usually these two events came at separate dates. Find out more about the other days off this year here. Romanian parents will get one day off a year for children’s medical exam Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com