Australia To Review NSW Public Holidays

Sources: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Sydney) and Australia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Australia's New South Wales Industrial Relations Minister, John Hatzistergos, has announced that a review into public holidays that fall on a weekend. The review will be headed by law Professor, Joellen Riley, and the report is due in October 2009.

Saint Kitts and Nevis National day Of Prayer On June 1st Public Holiday

Sources: Caribbean Net News (Charlestown) and Saint Kitts and Nevis bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Acting Premier of Nevis, Robelto Hector, has announced that the Nevis Island Administration had declared June 1st, 2009, a national day of prayer for protection during the June 1-November 30 hurricane season.

Lebanon Declares June 8 Public Holiday

Sources: Reuters (Beirut) and Lebanon bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Lebanon has declared that Monday, June 8, 2009, would be a one-off public holiday, to coincide with the coming parliamentary elections.

Brazil Now Considering Moving Mid-Week Public Holidays To Mondays

Sources: Agência Senado Federal (Brasilia) and Brazil bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Brazilian senator, Roberto Cavalcanti (PRB-PB), has introduced new legislation that would move all mid-week public holidays (civil and religious) to the nearest Monday.

Trinidad and Tobago Renames Indian Arrival Day

Sources: The Trinidad Guardian (Port of Spain) and Trinidad and Tobago bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, has announced that, given the multi-racial composition of the country, the government had seen it fit to rename tomorrow's public holiday from "Indian Arrival Day" to, simply, "Arrival Day".

Chile Considering September 17-20 Public Holidays in 2010

Sources: Chile.com (Santiago) and Chile bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A group of Chilean parliamentarians from the UDI, PPD, as well as some independents, has introduced legislation that would make Friday, September 17, and Monday, September 20, 2010, one-off public holidays. The bill has now moved to the "Comisión de la Cultura y de las Artes" for consideration.

Fiji's Capital Open For Business Despite Public Holiday

Sources: Fiji Daily Post (Suva) and Fiji bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The president of Suva Retailers Association, Himmat Lodhia, has announced that despite Friday, May 29, 2009, being an official public holiday in Fiji, stores in Fiji's capital, Suva, would be open all day.

Bulgaria Declares May 29 National Day Of Mourning

Sources: Bulgarian News Network (BNN) and Bulgaria bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Bulgarian Cabinet has declared a national day of mourning, tomorrow, Friday, May 29th, 2009, following an accident in southern Bulgaria, where 16 people were mowed by a bus, earlier today.

Nigeria May 29 Public Holiday Cancelled In Edo State

Sources: This Day Online (Abuja) and Nigeria bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Governor of Nigeria's State of Edo, Adams Oshiomhole, has announced that Edo State would not be observing the upcoming May 29, Democracy Day public holiday.

Bermuda Parliament Restores June Public Holiday

Sources: The Royal Gazette (Kingston) and Bermuda bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). On Friday, Bermuda's House of Assembly passed the Public Holidays Amendment (No. 2) Act 2009 in its third and final reading. This officializes the Government's recent announcement that it had decided to move the October National Heroes' Day public holiday from October back to June.

Namibia Considers Changes To Public Holidays' Scope

Sources: New Era (Windhoek) and Namibia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Under pressure from the tourism industry, Namibia's Minister of Labour and Social Services (MoLSS) is to consider 6 variations to the Labour Act of 2007, which regulates the observance of public holidays in Namibia.

Dominican Republic May Cancel Election Day Public Holidays

Sources: Stabroek News (Georgetown) and Dominican Republic bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Dominican Republic legislature is considering a measure aimed at cutting costs by holding all elections on a single day, and which would effectively cancel the Election Day public holidays by stipulating that election day should always be a Sunday.

Lebanon Declares May 25 Public Holiday

Sources: Ya Libnan (Beirut) and Lebanon bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The office of Lebanon's prime minister’s announced that Monday, May 25, 2009, had been declared an official public holiday on the occasion of Liberation Day. As such, all public and private institutions, schools and universities will be closed.

Netherlands Antilles Public Sector Holiday Tomorrow

Sources: The Daily Herald (Philipsburg) and Netherlands Antilles bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Netherlands Antilles government has confirmed that tomorrow, Friday, May 22, 2009, the day after the Ascension general public holiday, would be a public sector holiday for all civil servants and government offices.

Bhutan To Host 2010 SAARC Summit

Sources: Kuensel Newspaper (Thimphu) and Bhutan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bhutan prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, has announced that Bhutan would host the 2010 SAARC Summit that the heads of governments from Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Maldives will be attending. The summit is tentatively scheduled for April 28 and 29, 2010.

Ghana Confirms May 25 Public Holiday

Sources: Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Ghana bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Cletus Avoka, has announced that the government of Ghana had confirmed Monday, May 25, 2009, African Union Day, as a statutory public holiday.

Latvia Confirms June 20-24 Public Holidays

Sources: The Baltic Course (Riga) and Latvia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Latvia's Welfare Ministry has announced that, in accordance with the government resolution adopted last year, Monday, June 22, 2009, would be a one-off bridge public holiday, creating a 5-day period of public holidays, from Saturday, June 20, to Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

Madagascar Declares May 22 Bridge Public Holiday

Sources: Haute Autorité de la Transition (HAT) and Madagascar bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Madagascar's transitional government (Haute autorité de la transition, aka. HAT) has declared Friday, May 22, 2009, a one-off bridge public holiday.

Lebanon Pressured To Declare May 25 Public Holiday

Sources: iLoubnan (Beirut) and Lebanon bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday, Lebanon's Development and Liberation bloc MP, Anwar al-Khalil, called for the cabinet to announce May 25 as a national public holiday to be called the “Resistance and Liberation Day”.

Sri Lanka Public Holiday Confirmed For May 20

Sources: NIDAHASA News (Colombo) and Sri Lanka bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). After many unofficial reports last weekend and yesterday, Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has declared tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2009, as a national public holiday to celebrate the end of the LTTE rebellion.

Jordan Clarifies May 24 Public Holiday Status

Sources: The Jordan Times (Amman) and Jordan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A follow-up communiqué issued by Jordan's Prime Minister's office has clarified the status of the public holiday announced last week for Sunday, May 24, 2009. This date will be a general public holiday, not only limited to public servants, but Monday, May 25, 2009, will be a regular working day.

Sri Lanka End Of Rebellion Public Holiday Likely On May 22

Sources: Times Online (Colombo) and Sri Lanka bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Sri Lanka's Government Information Department has announced that Parliament had been prorogued and would be reconvened on Tuesday, at which time it is reported that Friday, May 22, 2009, would be declared a national public holiday, to celebrate the end of the LTTE rebellion.

Malawi Declares May 19 Public Holiday

Sources: Nyasa Times (Lilongwe) and Malawi bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Malawi's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Patrick Kabambe, has announced that the government of Malawi had declared Tuesday, May 19, 2009, a public holiday on the occasion of this year's Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.

Sri Lanka Public Holiday Announcement Expected Tomorrow

Sources: The Sunday Times (Colombo) and Sri Lanka bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). During next Tuesday's ceremonial address to the nation from Parliament , Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is expected to announce a new national public holiday, to be designated National Liberation Day.

Belgium's Unlikely To Adopt Floating Public Holidays

Sources: Conseil National Belge Du Travail (Brussels) and Belgium bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Conseil National Belge Du Travail (CNT) has released an opinion paper (avis n° 1687 du 6 mai 2009) rejecting a mandatory floating public holiday whereby each individual could choose one public holiday to match his/her religious or philosophical views.

Argentina Approves October 30 National Holiday

Sources: Perfil (Buenos Aires) and Argentina bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Argentina's Senate has voted in final reading a bill that would make October 30, an annual national holiday called "Día Nacional de la Democracia", commemorating the 1983 elections that marked Argentina's return to democracy.

Jordan Announces May 24 Bridge Public Holiday

Sources: The Jordan Times (Amman) and Jordan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A communiqué issued today by Jordan's Prime Minister, Nader Dahabi, has announced a public sector bridge holiday for Sunday, May 24, 2009, to coincide with the annual, May 25, Independence Day public holiday.

Nigeria Enugu State Public Holiday Tomorrow

Sources: Vanguard Online (Enugu) and Nigeria bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The governor of Nigeria's State of Enugu, Sullivan Chime, has declared a state public holiday, tomorrow, Friday, May 15, 2009, in honour of the former governor, Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh, who died on May 5th.

Sri Lanka Half-Day Bank Holiday Tomorrow

Sources: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Sri Lanka bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Sri Lanka's banks, and its stock market (the Colombo Stock Exchange), will be closed tomorrow afternoon, Friday, May 15, 2009.

Philippines Votes Chinese New Year Public Holiday

Sources: Manila Bulletin (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Committee on Revision of Laws of the Philippines' House of Representatives has approved 10 bills proposing additional annual public holidays, most notably, House Bill (HB) 5881, which would make Chinese New Year a special non-working public holiday.

India Declares May 13 Public Holiday In Punjab

Sources: Punjab Newsline (Chandigarh) and India bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Chief Electoral Officer of India's State of Punjab, Kusumjit Sidhu, has announced that Wednesday, May 13, 2009, would be a state public holiday "for the voters of the nine Parliamentary Constituencies of the state to go out in full strength".

Chad Declares Victory Public Holiday

Sources: AFP (Ndjamena) and Chad bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Chad's President, Idriss Deby Itno, has announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13, 2009, would be a national public holiday to celebrate the government's recent victory over what it calls "the columns of mercenaries paid by the Khartoum regime".

Australia Agfest Public Holiday Update

Sources: The Examiner (Hobart) and Australia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has come out against a, recently discussed, Tasmania-wide, state public holiday for Agfest, particularly if it means increasing the number of public holidays in Australia's State of Tasmania, or if it is done at the expense of the Launceston Show Day public holiday.

Bolivia Announces Staggered Nationwide Public Holidays

Sources: Agencia Boliviana de Información (ABI) and Bolivia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bolivian President, Evo Morales, has announced that the government would soon declare staggered public holidays, state-by-state, to coincide with each of the 9 states' day of biometric census to be conducted as preparation to the upcoming December 6, 2009, general elections.

Philippines Pacman Celebration Day On May 11

Sources: ABS-CBN News (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Philippines' President, Glorai Macapagal-Arroyo, has declared Monday, May 11, 2009, as the new national day of celebration for boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Jordan Sectorial Public Holiday Today

Sources: BBC Mundo (Amman) and Jordan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The authorities in Jordan have declared a public holiday today for all Christians so that they may attend the mass given by Pope Benedict XVI.

Bermuda Moves Heroes' Day Public Holiday To June

Sources: The Royal Gazette (Kingston) and Bermuda bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bermuda's Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister, Dale Butler, told the Parliament that the government of Bermuda had decided to move the recently created Heroes' Day public holiday from October to June, effective in 2009 (next month).

Pakistan Declares May 12 Sindh Public Holiday

Sources: The Nation (Karachi) and Pakistan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Chief Minister of Pakistan's Province of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has finally declared a day of mourning public holiday throughout the state on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.

Argentina Petitioned For June Sectorial Public Holiday

Sources: Prensa Latina (Montevideo) and Argentina bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). In his upcoming visit to Argentina's President, Cristina Fernández Kirchner, Uruguayan presidential candidate, José Mujica, is expected to repeat his request that Argentina give 2 days of public holidays to all Uruguayans living in Argentina, so that they may return to Uruguay and vote in the October 25 Uruguayan presidential elections.

Pakistan May 12 Sindh Public Holiday Still Possible

Sources: Daily Times (Karachi) and Pakistan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). At yesterday's meeting of the Coordination Committee (CC) of Pakistan's three ruling coalition parties, the PPP, MQM and ANP, the Sindh government has hinted at the possibility of a public holiday being announced on May 12.

Liberia To Consider May Day Public Holiday

Sources: Liberia Broadcasting System (Monrovia) and Liberia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Liberia Labor Congress has petitioned the Liberian National Legislature to pass a law declaring May 1st, as a national public holiday.

Philippines Postpones Pacquiao National Holiday

Sources: The Philippine Star (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Following a WHO (World Health Organization) advisory, Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has decided to postpone the May 8 (working) National Holiday until next week.

Brazil's Senate Rejects Mid-Week Public Holiday Bill

Sources: Agência Senado Notícias (Senado Federal) and Brazil bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Brazil's Senate commission on education, culture and sport (Comissão de Educação, Cultura e Esporte-CE) has rejected a bill that would have moved some of Brazil's mid-week, fixed-date, public holidays to the adjoining Friday or Monday.

Gibraltar To Consider March 8 Public Holiday

Sources: Gibraltar Chronicle (Gibraltar) and Gibraltar bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Gibraltar's main trade union confederation, TGWU/Unite, has announced that it will be campaigning to make International Women’s Day (March 8) an annual paid public holiday.

Malta National Day Public Holiday Selection Update

Sources: The Times of Malta (Valletta) and Malta bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday, Malta's Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, has reiterated his suggestion that the September 21 Independence Day public holiday should be declared the National Day holiday of Malta.

Philippines Declares May 8 National Holiday

Sources: GMA News TV (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Philippines President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has issued Proclamation No. 1764 which declares Friday, May 8, 2009, as a national day of celebration to honor boxing champion Manny “Pacman" Pacquiao.

Pakistan May 12 Public Holiday Or Strike Update

Sources: The News (Karachi) and Pakistan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Pakistan's Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakhtoon Action Committee (PAC) have called for a general strike on May 12, unless the government agrees to declare a public holiday on May 12.

Algeria Business Pursues Move To Semi-Universal Weekends

Sources: TSA (Algiers) and Algeria bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Another large Algerian company, Afia (subsidiary of the Saudi group Savola), has implemented, effective May 3, 2009, the semi-universal Friday-Saturday weekend, instead of the official Algerian Thursday-Friday weekend.

Philippines Planning May 8 Public Holiday

Sources: The Philippine Star (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). In a GMA-7 interview, today, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao announced that he had received a personal telephone call from Philippines' President Arroyo (PGMA), who told him that Friday, May 8, 2009, the day he arrives in Manila, had been declared a non-working public holiday.

Namibia Public Holidays Not For Enjoyment

Sources: New Era (Windhoek) and Namibia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Yesterday, at a press conference ahead of the upcoming 4-day weekend, Namibia's SWAPO ruling party Secretary for Information and Publicity, Jerry Ekandjo, castigated those who "opt to spend the [holi]days engaging in socially pleasurable activities", and reminded Namibians that "these are days for remembrance and not for enjoyment".