North China city mulls 'smog holidays'   

沈阳今年冬天拟推“雾霾假” 严重污染天员工可休假

(ECNS) -- The city of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, has put forward a new regulation allowing its residents to take holidays during "severely smoggy days," according to the Liao Shen Evening News.

A draft of an emergency plan for air pollution control was released at a press conference held Wednesday by Shenyang's environmental protection bureau.

Employers in Shenyang are encouraged to offer flexible working hours or holidays for staff during severely smoggy days, according to one of the regulations in the draft.

"At present, people are advised to stay indoors when the city is shrouded in smog, but because of our jobs we still have to go out as scheduled. If this policy comes into force, then we can stay in our homes and don't have to suffer from the pollution," said Liu Chengcheng, a Shenyang resident.

The details of the regulation are still under discussion.