Sources: RTL Infos, RTBF, CNT and Belgium Public Holidays (see also our follow-up post of April 24). In a yet to be confirmed, measure, Belgium's Minister of Labor, Peter Vanvelthoven, following consultations with the CNT (Conseil National du Travail), is considering declaring a one-off public holiday in Belgium, on Sunday, August 10, 2008, to compensate for the fact that, in 2008, the May Day public holiday and the Ascension public holiday, both public holidays in Belgium, will fall on the same date, something that has not happened since 1913, and will not happen again until 2160.Analysis: By law, Belgium's workers are entitled to 10 public holidays a year, which makes a search for a replacement public holiday in 2008, eminently reasonable. The choice of a Sunday as replacement date, however, does puzzle. Reading the original text of the "Avis du Conseil National du Travail", it would seem that the choice of a Sunday was made so that branches that benefit from special treatment concerning public holiday that fall on a weekend, could negotiate a special arrangement concerning this Sunday holiday, without running the risk that they would ask for 2 compensation holidays, based on the premise that otherwise their status on this matter would not be special anymore, compared to ordinary workers who, in Belgium, have to forfeit any public holiday that falls on a weekend.
Apparently the announcement of this recommendation has angered other members of Parliament, some of whom have been pushing for the 3 community public holidays (July 11, September 27 and December 15) to become full national public holidays, some of whom have been pushing for International Women's Day (March 8), while some others have been lobbying for May 8 (the end of World War 2 in Europe), and yet others for Europe Day, on May 9.
We will continue to follow-up on this story and post an announcement when the date is either confirmed, or another one is announced.
Posts
