Spain Announces 2010 Public Holidays For La Murcia

Sources: Murcia.com (Murcia) and Spain public holidays (qppstudio.net). The executive of Spain's autonomous region of La Murcia has released its calendar of official public holidays for 2010.

Azerbaijan Extends Novruz Public Holidays

Sources: APA (Baku) and Azerbaijan public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan announced that it had decided to switch working and non-working days, so that the non-working period corresponding to the upcoming Novruz public holidays could extend from March 20 to 28, 2009, inclusively.

Morocco Moves Upcoming Prophet's Birthday Public Holiday

Sources: وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية (Casablanca) and Morocco public holidays (qppstudio.net). Morocco's Ministry of Religious Affairs (ministère des Habous et des Affaires islamiques) has announced that, since the new Moon's crescent had not been sighted on Wednesday, February 25 (29 Safar 1430 H), the month of Rabi I would start on Friday, February 27, meaning that the upcoming Prophet's Birthday Public Holiday would be moved to Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

UAE Private Sector Holiday On March 9

Sources: WAM Emirates News Agency (Dubai) and UAE public holidays (qppstudio.net). The UAE's Minister of Labour, HE Saqr Ghobash, has announced that Monday, March 9, 2009, had been declared as this year's date for the private sector public holiday marking the birthday of Prophet Mohammed.

Ecuador To Consider Additional Easter Public Holiday

Sources: Confirmado.net (Quito) and Ecuador public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Tourism Board of the coastal regions of Ecuador has asked President Correa to extend the upcoming Easter holidays by declaring Maundy Thursday (April 9, 2009) a one-off public holiday to compensate the losses due to the impracticability of roads to the coast during the recent 4-day Carnival public holidays.

UAE Public Sector Holiday On March 8

Sources: Emirates News Agency (Dubai) and UAE public holidays (qppstudio.net). The UAE's Minister of Health, and Chairman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, H.E. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, announced that all ministries and federal departments will remain closed on Sunday, March 8, 2009, on the occasion of Prophet Mohammed's birthday anniversary.

China Approves May Golden Week Public Holidays In Guangdong Province

Sources: Xinhua (Guangzhou) and China public holidays (qppstudio.net). China's Central Government has approved a pilot plan proposed last month by the provincial government of Guangdong to restore the May Golden week public holidays. This pilot project would be limited to Guangdong Province.

Pakistan To Consider August Tree Planting Public Holiday

Sources: The News (Islamabad) and Pakistan public holidays (qppstudio.net). Pakistan's Federal Minister for the Environment, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, is reported to have informed Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, that his Ministry plans to plant 11 million tree saplings in a single day, next August, and that that day would likely be declared a national public holiday.

Nigeria Public Holiday Today In Kaduna State

Sources: Daily Trust (Abjua) and Nigeria public holidays (qppstudio.net). Late last night, the government of Nigeria's State of Kaduna declared that Wednesday, February 25, 2009, would be a one-off public holiday throughout the State on the occasion of the closing ceremonies of the 10-day National Sports Festival (KADA Games 2009) taking place in Kaduna State this year.

Nepal Declares Public Holiday For Gyallo Lhosar

Sources: Republica (Kathmandu) and Nepal public holidays (qppstudio.net). Late today, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the government had declared Wednesday, February 25, 2009, as an official public holiday to mark Gyallo Lhosar.

Nigeria Declares 2-Day Funeral Public Holiday In Borno State

Sources: The Guardian (Maiduguri) and Nigeria public holidays (qppstudio.net). Following last night's funeral for the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Mustapha Mumar El-Kanemi, the governor of Nigeria's State of Borno, Ali Sheriff, declared a two-day public holiday for Monday and Tuesday, February 23 and 24, 2009, to enable public servants and other workers condole the family of the late Shehu.

Mongolia Announces Tsagaan Sar Public Holidays Measures

Sources: Montsame Agency (Ulaanbaatar) and Mongolia public holidays (qppstudio.net). According to a joint statement by Mongolia's General Authority of Border Protection and General Authority of Customs, all border checkpoints between Mongolia and China will be closed, starting on February 25, for 2 to 3 days, to coincide with the upcoming Tsagaan Sar 3-day public holidays.

USA Bill To Declare Election Day Public Holiday

Sources: Brennan Center for Justice (NYU School of Law) and USA public holidays (qppstudio.net). An omnibus bill (the Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act of 2009) tabled by Representative John Conyers Jr. and 5 co-sponsors would make Election Day a legal public holiday (as described in section 6103 of title 5, United States Code), every even-numbered year, beginning in 2010.

Ecuador Announces Carnival Public Holidays Recuperation Schedule

Sources: El Nuevo Empresario (Quito) and Ecuador public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ecuador's SENRES agency (Secretaría Nacional Técnica de Desarrollo de Recursos Humanos y Remuneraciones del Sector Público) has announced that this year's 2-day Carnival public holidays would be compensated by Saturday, February 28 and Saturday, March 7, 2009, being declared regular working days, for both the private and public sectors.

China Decrees 7-Day Of Public Holidays In Tibet

Sources: China Radio International (CRI) and China public holidays (qppstudio.net). China's government news agency has announced that from this year onward, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) would be granted 7 days of public holidays, to coincide with the Tibetan New Year (Losar).

Ghana To Add Founders' Day To List Of Public Holidays

Sources: The Ghanaian Journal (Accra) and Ghana public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday afternoon, Ghana's President, John Evans Atta Mills, announced that a Legislative Instrument will be sent to parliament to create a new, September 21, public holiday honouring Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Philippines Declares School Holiday For EDSA 1

Sources: The Philippine Star (Manila) and Philippines public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) signed Proclamation 1728 declaring Monday, February 23, 2009, as a special holiday for all public and private schools in observance of the 23rd anniversary of the 1986 people power revolution (EDSA 1).

Bulgaria Declares May1-6 Public Holidays

Sources: Sofia Echo (Sofia) and Bulgaria public holidays (qppstudio.net). In a reversal of last week's Cabinet decision, Bulgaria's Labour and Social Policy Minister, Emilia Maslarova, announced that at today's Cabinet session, it was decided to declare May 4 and May 5, 2009, as official public holidays, thus creating a 6-day public holiday stretching from May Day to St George's Day on May 6.

Thailand Declares July 6 Public Holiday

Sources: National News Bureau of Thailand (Bangkok) and Thailand public holidays (qppstudio.net). Thailand's deputy spokesman to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Supparak Kuanha, has announced that the Cabinet had approved the declaration of Monday, July 6, 2009, as a one-off bridge public holiday, thus creating a 5-day public holiday.

Taiwan To Consider Cancelling 228 Public Holiday

Sources: Taipei Times (Taipei) and Taiwan public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wu Yu-sheng said he planned to propose that the government cancel the February 28 public holiday (aka. 228 Memorial Day) as an official public holiday.

Philippines Confirms No February 25 Public Holiday

Sources: Philippines Star (Manila) and Philippines public holidays (qppstudio.net). Philippines Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Lorelei Fajardo, has confirmed that the upcoming anniversary of the February 25, 1986, people power revolution, would not be a public holiday.

Ecuador Will Not Move Carnival Public Holidays

Sources: Confirmado (Quito) and Ecuador public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ecuador's Tourism Minister, Verónica Sion, has announced that the upcoming Carnival public holidays would not be moved to a later date as had been widely suggested due to the bad road conditions between the highlands and the coastal areas of Ecuador.

Thailand Institutes Public Sector Bridge Holidays

Sources: The Nation (Bangkok) and Thailand public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday, Thailand's Governing Cabinet instituted the principle of bridge public holidays for the public sector, whereby Tuesday or Thursday public sector holidays would be linked to the adjoining weekend by declaring the Monday or Friday a bridge public holiday.

Australia April 27 NSW School Public Holiday

Sources: ABC (Sydney) and Australia public holidays (qppstudio.net). Due to an error in the school calendar gazetted 5 years ago, the public schools in the Australian State of New South Wales (NSW) will get a day in lieu public holiday on April 27, 2009, to compensate the fact that the ANZAC Day public holiday falls on a Saturday in 2009.

Australia Boxing Day Day In Lieu Confirmed For NSW

Sources: Australian Associated Press (Sydney) and Australia public holidays (qppstudio.net). After much prevarication, the Premier of Australia's State of New South Wales (NSW), Nathan Rees, has finally announced that the State government will gazette an additional public holiday on Monday, December 28, 2009, to compensate the fact that the Boxing Day public holiday falls on a Saturday in 2009.

Kuwait Labour Law Amendments To Reach Assembly By March 3

Sources: Middle East North Africa Financial Network (Dubai) and Kuwait public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Health, Social and Labour Affairs Committee of Kuwait's Parliament is to send a set of 25 amendments to the current labour law in the Private Sector to the National Assembly, before March 3.

In addition to the provisions we reported on last month, it was reported over the weekend that another provision to the draft law includes declaring International Workers Day, on May 1st, a national public holiday, a proposal that has often been made in the past.

Venezuela's Sucre Declares Post-Referendum Public Holiday

Sources: Informe 24 (Cumaná) and Venezuela public holidays (qppstudio.net). During the night from Sunday to Monday, the Governor of Venezuela's Sucre State, Enrique Maestre, decreed that Monday, February 16, 2009, would be a one-off public holiday to celebrate the Referendum victory of President Hugo Chavez.

Trinidad and Tobago Soon To Decide On April 17 Public Holiday

Sources: Trinidad and Tobago Express (Port of Spain) and Trinidad and Tobago public holidays (qppstudio.net). Trinidad and Tobago's Foreign Affairs Minister, Paula Gopee-Scoon, is quoted as saying that people could look forward to a public holiday on the first day of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in April, but did note that Prime Minister Patrick Manning is still deliberating on the matter.

Latvia Fails To Pass Orthodox Christmas Public Holidays Bill

Sources: Integration and Minority Information Service (Riga) and Latvia public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday, the bill declaring Orthodox and Old Believers' Christmas as public holidays in Latvia was rejected in its third reading in the Saeima (Latvia's Parliament). It is now expected that the final reading of the draft amendments to the Law on Holidays, Remembrance and Celebration Days will grant the status of a celebration day to Orthodox Christmas.

Bulgaria Declares March Bridge Public Holiday

Sources: The Sofia Echo (Sofia) and Bulgaria public holidays (qppstudio.net). At today's cabinet meeting, the government of Bulgaria announced a bridge public holiday for March 2, 2009. The cabinet, however, did not declare bridge public holidays for May 4 and May 5, as had been widely expected.

South Africa Will Hold National Elections On April 22

Sources: Bloomberg (NYC) and South Africa public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of South Africa has announced that the upcoming national elections (presidential and legislative) would be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. By law, election day is a public holiday in South Africa.

Lebanon Declares February 14 Public Holiday

Sources: Ya Libnan (Beirut) and Lebanon public holidays (qppstudio.net). Around noon, today, Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora declared February 14, 2009, as a public holiday and ordered all public institutions and public and private teaching institutions to remain closed for the day.

Singapore Revises 2009 Deepavali Public Holiday By A Month

Sources: Channel News Asia (Singapore) and Singapore public holidays (qppstudio.net). Singapore's Manpower Ministry (MOM) has announced that it had been advised by the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) that it had revised its announced date for the 2009 Deepavali public holiday from November 15 to October 17 (the date we have always been predicting).

Kuwait Confirms National Day Public Sector Holidays

Sources: The Kuwait Times (Kuwait City) and Kuwait public holidays (qppstudio.net). Kuwait's Civil Service Commission (CSC) announced that the upcoming national holidays celebrations would be held for four days starting February 25 (National Day) and 26 (Liberation Day) followed by Friday and Saturday which mark the weekend for the public sector.

Algeria Sets Date Of Presidential Election

Sources: El Moudjahid (Alger) and Algeria public holidays (qppstudio.net). The date of Algeria's upcoming presidential election has been announced for April 9, 2009. We expect that date to be declared a public holiday, as was done for the last legislative elections.

French Polynesia Announces Official Public Holidays For 2009

Sources: Présidence de la Polynésie Française (Papeete) and French Polynesia public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Presidency of French Polynesia has announced the list of official public holidays for the calendar year 2009.

Latvia's Parliament Moves Orthodox Public Holidays To Final Reading

Sources: Baltic Course (Riga) and Latvia public holidays (qppstudio.net). Today, the Saeima (Latvia's Parliament) approved in a second reading amendments to the ''Law on Holidays and Remembrance Days'' which will add Orthodox and Old Believers' Christmas (January 6 and 7) as official public holidays in Latvia.

Azerbaijan Amends Labor Code

Sources: Trend News (Baku) and Azerbaijan public holidays (qppstudio.net). The head of the Social Legislation Department of the Azerbaijani parliament, Mirhashim Seyidov, has announced that as part amendments to the Labor Code tabled for approval, the automatic declaration of a non-working public holiday would henceforth occur at 41 degrees Celsius (106 degress Farenheit) rather than the current 45 degrees (113 degrees Farenheit).

Guinea Declares February 6 Public Holiday

Sources: Kababachir (Conakry) and Guinea public holidays (qppstudio.net). Guinea's Prime Minister, Kabiné Komara, has announced that Friday, February 6, 2009, would be a one-off public holiday throughout Guinea to commemorate the 40th day since the death of former President Lansana Conté, late last year.

South Korea Confirms 2010 Sunday Public Holidays

Sources: Chosun (Seoul) and South Korea public holidays (qppstudio.net). South Korea's Astronomy and Space Science Institute confirmed the 2010 dates for the Seol-nal (lunar New Year) and Chuseok (harvest festival) public holidays, with Seol-nal falling on a Sunday.

Nepal Considering 2-Day Weekends

Sources: Xinhua (Kathmandu) and Nepal public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, the committee formed to review public holidays recommended that Nepal change over to a five-day week.

Philippines Considering Reducing Number of Public Holidays In 2009

Sources: Business Mirror (Manila) and Philippines public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, Philippines' Presidential Press Secretary, Cerge Remonde, said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) is open to a proposed reduction in the number of holidays, this year, to help the business sector cope with the global crisis.

South Africa Election Date To Be Announced Friday

Sources: BuaNews (Johannesburg) and South Africa public holidays (qppstudio.net). South Africa's President, Kgalema Motlanthe, is expected to announce the date of the upcoming elections during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in front of Parliament, this coming Friday.

Venezuela Regional Public Holiday Today

Sources: El Caribe (Caracas) and Venezuela public holidays (qppstudio.net). Late last night, local time, the Governor of Venezuela's State of Aragua, Rafael Isea, declared Tuesday, February 4, 2009, as a state-wide public holiday to commemorate the February 4, 1992, attempted coup by Hugo Chavez.

Kuwait Revises Labor Law

Sources: The Kuwait Times (Kuwait City) and Kuwait public holidays (qppstudio.net). Late last week, Kuwait's Parliament approved the first reading of a new labor law which, among other measures, would grant more public holidays to private sector employees.

Venezuela Declares February 2nd Public Holiday

Sources: El Nacional (Caracas) and Venezuela public holidays (qppstudio.net). Late last night (Monday morning in Europe) the government of Venezuela announced that Monday, February 2, 2009, would be a one-off public holiday (día no laborable) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hugo Chavez's accession to power.