He said it is up to factories, stores and schools to decide whether they would follow suit. They may shorten the holiday.

In a rather unusual move, Chen let non-government agencies determine how long their New Year holiday should be. They used to synchronize their holiday with the government.

New Year’s Day falls on Thursday.

January 2 is a Friday, followed by a weekend on the two days that follow.

It’s customary for the government to decide to have an extra day off on Friday, if a holiday falls on Thursday, so that people may enjoy four days off in a row.

But that extra day off should be made up for.

“Government employees should go to office on the following Saturday, January 10,” Chen declared.

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan has approved the holiday package, Chen said.

“It is hoped,” the chief of personnel said, “all public functionaries would use that extra holiday to do something to stimulate domestic consumption.”

The Liu administration, by orders of President Ma Ying-jeou, is doing what it can to jump-start Taiwan’s sluggish consumption.

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