Maltese Union Protests Government’s Public Holiday Elimination

ICEM affiliate General Workers’ Union of Malta is protesting that government’s introduction of legislation aimed at eliminating all public holidays that fall on weekends. This means workers—if the bill is passed as an amendment to Legislation on Public Holidays—will not get an additional leave day for holidays occurring on weekend days, as mandated in Malta’s Industrial and Employments Relations Act. In 2005, if passed, workers will lose three holidays, including the 1 May holiday and Christmas Day.