South Africa Mandela Day Holiday Update

Sources: The Independent Online (Pretoria) and South Africa bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). From recent media reports, it would appear that the recently announced, July 18, Nelson Mandela Day, will not be an official public holiday.

Ghana Confirms July 1st Public Holiday Status

Sources: Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Ghana bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Cletus Avoka, has released a statement confirming that Wednesday, July 1st, 2009, is Republic Day, a statutory public holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country.

Pakistan Changes July Bank Holiday

Sources: The Daily Times (Karachi) and Pakistan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The State Bank of Pakistan has announced that the previously scheduled July 2 bank holiday had been moved to Wednesday, July 1st, 2009.

Zimbabwe Announces 2010 Public Holidays List

Sources: Zimbabwean Government Gazette (Harare) and Zimbabwe bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Co-Ministers, Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa, have announced that the list of normal public holidays had been gazetted for 2010.

Bangladesh Confirms July 1st Bank Holiday

Sources: United News of Bangladesh (Dhaka) and Bangladesh bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, the Central Bank of Bangladesh released a communique confirming the July 1st, 2009, bank holiday.

Thailand Club Rules Apply To New Public Holiday

Sources: Phuket Magazine (Phuket) and Thailand bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A couple of years after the Buddhist Lent public holiday was exchanged for the Asarnha Bucha public holiday, it seems that most bars and "places of indulgence" will be closed on July 7.

Iraq To Consider July 25 Public Holiday

Sources: The Kurdish Globe (Erbil) and Iraq bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The President of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, has asked Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to declare July 25, 2009, a national public holiday, to coincide with the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary and presidential elections.

Bolivia Considering Nationwide Census Public Holidays In September

Sources: Los Tiempos (La Paz) and Bolivia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The president of Bolivia's electoral commission (CNE), Antonio Costas, has announced that the census public holidays, mentioned as a possibility last month, would likely be in September 2009.

Costa Rica July 25 Public Holiday Fixed

Sources: La Nación (San José) and Costa Rica bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly Third Plenary Commission has ratified the bill submitted by Social Christian deputy, Jorge Eduardo Sanchez, making the date of the observance of the Guanacaste Annexation public holiday fixed to July 25, regardless of the weekday on which July 25 occurs.

New Caledonia Considering Annual June 26 Public Holiday

Sources: Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (Nouméa) and New Caledonia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The new president of New Caledonia, Philippe Gomes, of the Caledonia Together Party, has indicated that he would consult leaders over whether to make June the 26th a public holiday next year.

Ecuador Declares June 25 Regional Public Holiday

Sources: El Diario (Portoviejo) and Ecuador bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ecuador's Manabí Provincial Council has decreed that tomorrow, Thursday, June 25, 2009, would be a non-working civic public holiday in the Province of Manabí.

Puerto Rico To Consolidate Public Sector Holidays

Sources: Primera Hora (San Juan) and Puerto Rico bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Puerto Rico's Chamber of Representatives has approved, and sent to the Senate, last spring's Proyecto de la Cámara 1387 which would sharply reduce the number of public sector holidays in Puerto Rico.

Brazil Bill To Add 3 Religious Public Holidays Rejected

Sources: Agência Câmara (Brasilia) and Brazil bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Board of Education and Culture of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has rejected bill 2846/08, presented by Mr Wellington Fagundes, last year, and which purported to make into full national public holidays the holidays of Carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Corpus Christi.

New Zealand - No Maori New Year Public Holiday This Year

Sources: NZ Herald News (Auckland) and New Zealand bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Despite last-minute frantic lobbying, tomorrow, Matariki, or Maori New Year, will not be a public holiday in New Zealand.

Micronesia Declares 4-Day Mourning Period

Sources: FSM Information Services (Pohnpei) and Federated States of Micronesia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). FSM President, Manny Mori, signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring a 4-day national period of mourning, from June 23-26, 2009, on the occasion of the passing of the late Honorable Vice-Speaker and Dauk of U, Resio S. Moses of the State of Pohnpei.

Bahrain Central Bank Publishes 2010 Public Holidays List

Sources: Central Bank of Bahrain (Manama) and Bahrain bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bahrain's Central Bank has published its list of expected bank and public holidays in Bahrain for the calendar year 2010.

Rwanda Clarifies Public Service Holiday Status

Sources: Rwanda Minister of Information (Kigali) and Rwanda bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, at a recent Cabinet meeting, clarified the status of the upcoming, June 23, Public Service Day.

Romania Could Declare 4-Day Public Holidays

Sources: Citinews (Cluj) and Romania bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Romanian media are reporting that an electoral bridge public holiday is likely on Monday, November 30, 2009.

Spain's Balears Region Announces 2010 Public Holidays

Sources: Diario de Ibiza (Palma) and Spain bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Spain's autonomous region of the Balears has announced its official calendar of 2010 public holidays.

Philippines Declares Araw ng Maynila Public Holiday

Sources: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Mayor of the capital of the Philippines, Alfredo Lim, announced that Malacañang had issued Proclamation No. 1799 declaring Wednesday, June 24, 2009, as a special non-working public holiday in Manila, in commemoration of the 438th founding anniversary of the city.

Moldova Likely To Declare July 29 Public Holiday

Sources: ProTV (Chisinau) and Moldova bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Moldova's President, Vladimir Voronin, has dissolved the Legislature, and announced that early legislative elections on Wednesday, July 29, 2009.

Thailand Considering Longer Public Holidays

Sources: MCOT (Bangkok) and Thailand bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Thailand's Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has announced that the government would consider longer public holidays, as part of its efforts to stimulate local tourism.

Philippines Law To Move Rizal Day Public Holiday To June

Sources: Inquirer.net (Manila) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Philippines Chamber of Deputies has approved on third and final reading House Bill 5408 to amend the Administrative Code of 1987 to change the commemoration date of the Rizal Day public holiday from December 30 (the date when he was executed) to June 19 (his birthday).

Iraq Declares June 30 Public Holiday

Sources: Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) and Iraq bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has declared the 'blessed day' of Tuesday, June 30, 2009, a one-off public holiday in celebration of the upcoming partial US withdrawal (from Iraqi cities and towns).

Costa Rica July 25 Public Holiday Update

Sources: La Nación (San José) and Costa Rica bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Costa Rica's Parliament has approved Bill 16.330 which would make the July 25 annual public holiday immovable (ie. it would always be observed on July 25).

Bolivia Declares June 21 Public Holiday

Sources: TeleSUR (La Paz) and Bolivia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of Bolivia has announced that the Indigenous New Year, on June 21, would henceforth be an annual, immovable, public holiday in Bolivia. This announcement had been expected and it is likely that in compensation, the Corpus Christi public holiday will be cancelled beginning in 2010.

New Zealand To Consider Matariki Maori New Year Public Holiday

Sources: Scoop (Wellington) and New Zealand bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). New Zealand's Maori Party has announced that it would introduce a private member bill, the "Matariki Maori New Year Bill 2009", into the 49th Parliament, making Matariki Maori New Year a public holiday throughout New Zealand.

Thailand Main Public Holidays Soon Dry ?

Sources: Bangkok Post (Bangkok) and Thailand bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A network of monks provinces including Surin, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi and Trat petitioned the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, to make the public holidays of Makha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent Day, declared alcohol-free days.

Bolivia Considering June 21 Public Holiday

Sources: La Razón (La Paz) and Bolivia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of Bolivia is reported to be considering declaring June 21 , the indigenous new year, an annual public holiday.

Sri Lanka Releases Official List Of 2010 Public Holidays

Sources: Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs (Colombo) and Sri Lanka bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has released its official list of bank and public holidays for 2010.

Colombian Long Weekend Public Holidays Update

Sources: El Pais (Cali) and Colombia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). With this year's occurrence in Colombia of 3 long weekends in the month of June, the debate on the selection of Christian public holidays, and the setting of their dates according to the Ley Emiliani, is again becoming a bone of contention between the government and the trade unions.

Nigeria LASG Wants June 12 To Be A National Public Holiday

Sources: NEXT (Lagos) and Nigeria bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Lagos State government has called on the Nigerian federal government to declare June 12 an annual national public holiday.

Iraq Referendum On July 30

Sources: United Press International (Baghdad) and Iraq bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Iraqi Cabinet has approved plans to hold a July 30 national referendum on the country's security agreement with the United States.

Panama Could Move More Public Holidays

Sources: Asamblea Nacional de Panamá (Ciudad de Panamá) and Panama bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Panama's Parliamentary Labour Commission has approved, in first reading, Bill 510, which would modify Article 46 of Panama's Labour Code and extend the number of Panamanian public holidays whose date is fixed by the días puentes method.

Zambia Refutes June 23 Public Holiday

Sources: Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (Lusaka) and Zambia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Zambia's Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, has issued a statement saying that, despite earlier reports, June 23rd, 2009, will be a normal working day.

Sri Lankan Public Servants To Work On Public Holidays

Sources: Independent Television Network (Colombo) and Sri Lanka bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Sri Lanka's Deputy Commissioner General of Tax Control, Mahinda Medagoda, has announced that as part of an effort by the civil service to rebuild the economy of Sri Lanka, Inland Revenue employees have voluntarily offered to work on public holidays. To those who complain that civil servants do not work enough, this should be a reminder of the old adage "Be careful what you wish for - you might get it".

USA - States Considering Eliminating Some Public Holidays

Sources: United Press International (UPI) and USA bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). National Conference of State Legislatures spokeswoman, Meagan Dorsch, has announced that a number of U.S. states are considering eliminating public holidays to help balance their budgets.

Venezuela Confirms Details Of Upcoming Bank Holiday

Sources: Diario El Carabobeño (Caracas) and Venezuela bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Venezuela's Banks' Association (Consejo Bancario Nacional) has confirmed the date and modalities of the bank holiday that corresponds to Corpus Christi.

India 2010 Public Sector Holidays Announced

Sources: The Times of India (New Delhi) and India bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Ministry of Personnel, Government of India, has announced the list of public sector holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2010. In that list, 8 of the 17 holidays fall either on Saturdays or Sundays.

Uganda Public Holidays Under Fire

Sources: New Vision Online (Kampala) and Uganda bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ugandan member of parliament, Henry Banyenzaki, has asked the Government to consider reducing the number of national public holidays, arguing that, for the most part, they do not have any positive impact on the development of the country.

Dominica Working Day Sundays Update

Sources: Dominica News Online (Roseau) and Dominica bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A few days after the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) suggested that Sunday should be regarded as a normal working day, the government of Premier Roosevelt Skerrit is yet to comment.

Pakistan Declares June 13 Public Holiday In Punjab

Sources: Online News (Lahore) and Pakistan bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Pakistan's Province of Punjab has declared a public holiday for tomorrow, June 13, 2009, on the occasion of the funeral of Maulana Sarfraz Naeemi.

Zambia Adds June 23 Public Holiday

Sources: Zambia News and Information Services (Lusaka) and Zambia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Zambia's Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. Joshua Kanganja, has announced that Africa Public Service Day, on June 23rd, had been declared a public holiday on the Zambian calendar to be celebrated at national and provincial levels.

Equatorial Guinea Declares 3-Day Mourning

Sources: iafrica.com (AFP) and Equatorial Guinea bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, Equatorial Guinea's President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, declared three days of national mourning for Gabon's late president Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Nigeria's LASG Declares June 12 Public Holiday

Sources: Daily Triumph (Lagos) and Nigeria bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). As had been expected, Nigeria's Lagos State government declared Friday, June 12, 2009, a work-free public holiday.

Gabon Declares June 11 and 16 Public Holidays

Sources: La Vie Eco (AFP) and Gabon bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Late last night, Gabon's Minister of Labor, Employment, Social Security and Social Relations, announced that the Gabonese Government had declared Thursday, June 11, and Tuesday, June 16, 2009, as one-off public holidays.

Benin Declares 3-Day Mourning Period

Sources: Afrique en Ligne (Cotonou) and Benin bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). At an extraordinary Benin council of ministers meeting, yesterday, Benin's government declared three days of national mourning, starting from today, June 10, in memory of President Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, who passed away Monday.

Philippines Rizal Province Public Holiday Tomorrow

Sources: Official Website of the Provincial Government of Rizal (Teresa) and Philippines bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Philippines' Government Proclamation 1790, signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, declares tomorrow, June 11, 2009, the 108th Foundation Day of Rizal Province, a special non-working public holiday throughout the province.

Bolivia Ratifies Corpus Christi Public Holiday For 2009

Sources: Red Erbol (La Paz) and Bolivia bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bolivian presidential spokesman, Iván Canelas, has announced that the government of Bolivia had retained the upcoming, June 11, public holiday of Corpus Christi, for 2009 at least.

India's Punjab Declares June 12 Public Holiday

Sources: Punjab Newsline (Chandigarh) and India bank and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of India's State of Punjab has declared Friday, June 12, 2009, as a paid public holiday in the Nurmahal Assembly Constituency to enable the voters to cast their votes.