New Caledonia 2012 Bank Holidays Amended

Sources: Medef Nouvelle-Calédonie (Nouméa) and New Caledonia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The recently-published list of official bank holidays in New Caledonia for the calendar year 2012 has been amended. [full story]

Portugal Religious Public Holidays Update

Sources: Económico (Lisboa) and Portugal bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Within a couple of days, the Portuguese Episcopal Conference and the Vatican have made separate proposals to amend the Portuguese Government's current plans to cancel 2 religious annual non-working public holidays in Portugal. [full story]

Philippines Congress Votes March 8 Public Holiday

Sources: Public Relations and Information Bureau of the Philippines House of Representatives (Manila) and Philippines bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Philippines House of Representatives has approved, on third and final reading, a bill which declares March 8 an annual non-working public holiday in the Philippines to commemorate "National Women's Day". [full story]

Zimbabwe March 8 Public Holiday Push

Sources: The Herald (Harare) and Zimbabwe bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on the government of Zimbabwe to also declare March 8 an annual non-working public holiday in Zimbabwe to commemorate International Women's Day. [full story]

Argentina September 24 Public Holiday Bill

Sources: Parlamentario (Buenos Aires) and Argentina bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A bill (proyecto de ley) has been introduce in Argentina's lower house of Congress which would declare September 24, 2012, as another one-off nationwide public holiday to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Tucumán. [full story]

Nigeria Votes March 8 Public Holiday

Sources: Vanguard (Abuja) and Nigerian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The House of Representatives of Nigeria has passed a resolution that the Federal Government of Nigeria should declare an annual non-working public holiday on March 8 to commemorate Women's Day. [full story]

Azerbaijan October 18 Public Holidays Restored

Sources: Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabineti (Baku) and Azerbaijan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The decision of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers, restoring the October 18 annual non-working public holiday, has been adopted. [full story]

Honduras New Public Holiday February 3

Sources: El Heraldo (Tegucigalpa) and Honduras bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Honduras' Legislative Assembly (Congreso Nacional) has indicated that it will approve last month's presidential request that February 3 be declared a new annual non-working public holiday in Honduras to coincide with the Aniversario del Hallazgo de la Virgen de Suyapa (the anniversary of the discovery of the Vigin of Suyapa, Honduras' patron saint). [full story]

Malaysian Sabah Public Holiday April 11

Sources: Bernama News Agency (Kuala Lumpur) and Malaysian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Chief Minister of Malaysia's state of Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, has announced that following the weekly cabinet meeting, the government of Sabah had decided to also declare Wednesday, April 11, 2012, as a one-off non-working public holiday on account of the upcoming installation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (Malaysia's King). [full story]

Iraqi Public Holidays Overhaul Update

Sources: جريدة الصباح (Baghdad) and Iraqi bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Iraqi parliament has introduced. for a first reading, legislation aimed at, once again, overhauling and hopefully simplifying the official list of non-working public holidays in Iraq. [full story]

Philippines March 8 Public Holiday Ruled-Out

Sources: Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (Twitter) and Philippines bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Malacañang, Philippine's presidential palace, has issued a statement confirming that tomorrow, Thursday, March 8, 2012, would not be a non-working public holiday in the Philippines. [full story]

Bolivian Afternoon Public Holiday March 8

Sources: Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social (La Paz) and Bolivia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bolivia's Ministry of Labour has announced that the upcoming International Women's Day would be a half-day non-working public holiday for Bolivian female public sector employees. [full story]

Latvian New Public Holiday Postponed Indefinitely

Sources: LETA News Agency (Riga) and Latvia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Latvian Prime Minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, has announced that due to a lack of consensus within Latvia's current ruling coalition parties, further debate on the declaration of a new annual non-working public holiday in Latvia had been "postponed indefinitely". [full story]

Croatians Support Public Holidays Cut

Sources: CRO Demoskop (Zagreb) and Croatia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). A recent poll by the Croatian polling institute CRO Demoskop shows that almost half of the people questioned supported the recent government's proposal to reduce the number of non-working public holidays in Croatia. [full story]

Mexico Papal Public Holiday Considered

Sources: El Universal (Ciudad de México) and Mexico bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The president of Mexico's Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (Council of Private Employers), José Antonio Abugaber, has announced that he would favor the creation of a non-working public holiday to coincide with the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI in Mexico. [full story]

Indian 2012 Goa Public Holidays Amended

Sources: The Official Gazette of the Government of Goa (Panaji) and Indian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of India's state of Goa has amended its previously-released list of the days which will be non-working public holidays in the Indian state of Goa for the calendar year 2012 with the declaration of a "public holiday" on Thursday, March 8, 2012, of account of the upcoming Holi. [full story]

Trinidad and Tobago Holi March 11

Sources: Trinidad and Tobago Government Portal (Port of Spain) and Trinidad and Tobago bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced that the upcoming Holi festival would be celebrated on Sunday, March 11, 2012. [full story]

Nepalese Public Holidays March 7-8

Sources: नेपाली गृह मंत्रालय के मंत्रालय (Kathmandu) and Nepalese bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the government of Nepal had declared Wednesday and Thursday, March 7 and 8, 2012, as a non-working public holidays on account of the upcoming Holi/Fagu festival. [full story]

Malaysian Public Holidays Cut Ruled-Out

Sources: Bernama News Agency (Kuala Lumpur) and Malaysian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, has announced that the government of Malaysia has no plans to reduce the number of non-working public holidays in Malaysia as part of its upcoming implementation of a minimum wage. [full story]

Australian SA Public Holidays Reviewed

Sources: The Government of South Australia (Adelaide) and Australian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The South Australian Government has announced that it plans to review and amend the official legislation governing non-working public holidays in the Australian state of South Australia. [full story]

Indian 2012 Tamil Nadu Public Holidays Amended

Sources: Government of Tamil Nadu (Chennai) and Indian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of India's state of Tamil Nadu has amended its previously-released list of the days which will be non-working public holidays for the calendar year 2012 in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with the inclusion of a public holiday on the date of the Bhagawan Vaigundaswami Birthday. [full story]

Gibraltar Public Holidays Changes Gazetted

Sources: Government of Gibraltar Press Office (Gibraltar) and Gibraltar bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of Gibraltar has gazetted the recently-announced changes to the observance of the May Day non-working public holiday in Gibraltar. [full story]

Armenia Amends March 9 Public Holiday

Sources: Հայերեն լրատվական գործակալությանը (ARMENPRESS) and Armenian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Armenian Head of the Government Staff, David Sargsyan, has announced that the Armenian government had amended its earlier decision which declared a one-off public holiday on Friday, March 9, 2012. [full story]

Latvian Orthodox Public Holiday Rejected

Sources: LETA News Agency (Riga) and Latvia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Despite last-minute lobbying by Latvian President, Andris Berzins, the Latvian Saeima (parliament) has rejected another bill that would have made Orthodox Christmas an official non-working public holiday in Latvia. [full story]

Kazakhstan Public Holiday March 9

Sources: Қазақстан Республикасының Электрондық үкіметі (Astana) and Kazakhstan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Kazakhstan has declared Friday, March 9, 2012, as a non-working public holiday to link the annual International Women's Day public holiday with the subsequent weekend. [full story]

Ukraine Public Holiday March 9

Sources: Кабінет Міністрів України (Kiev) and Ukraine bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukraine has issued a resolution declaring Friday, March 9, 2012, as a non-working public holiday to link the annual Women's Day public holiday with the subsequent weekend. [full story]

Belarus Public Holiday March 9

Sources: Савет Міністраў Рэспублікі Беларусь (Minsk) and Belarus bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has issued a decree declaring Friday, March 9, 2012, as a one-off non-working public holiday in Belarus. [full story]

Saudi Arabian 2012 Public Holidays Confirmed

Sources: وكالة الأنباء السعودية - واس (Riyadh) and Saudi Arabian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Saudi authorities have released the definite calendar of Saudi non-working public holidays and public sector holidays for the calendar year 2012. [full story]

Suriname Public Holidays Overhaul Stalled

Sources: Kabinet van de President van de Republiek Suriname (Paramarimbo) and Suriname bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Commission on Suriname National Holidays established by the government of Suriname to reduce the number of annual public holidays in Suriname has reached a dead-end in its discussions with religious groups, none of which seems ready to abandon one of its religious public holidays. [full story]

Cuba Papal Public Holiday Being Considered

Sources: Órgano Oficial del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba (Granma) and Cuban bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Cuban government has announced that it has not yet decided whether to declare one or more public holidays during the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Santiago de Cuba and Havana, on March 26, 27 and 28, 2012. [full story]

Singapore Thaipusam Public Holiday Ruled-Out

Sources: The Parliament Of Singapore (Singapore) and Singapore bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, has announced to Parliament that the Hindu festival of Thaipusam would not be gazetted as a non-working public holiday in Singapore. [full story]

Ghana Public Holiday March 6

Sources: Ghana Government Portal (Accra) and Ghana bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ghana's Minister For The Interior, William K. Aboah, has announced that Tuesday, March 6, 2012, would be a non-working public holiday in Ghana in commemoration of Ghana's Independence Anniversary. [full story]

Qatari Bank Holiday March 4

Sources: قنـا الموقع العربي الصفحة الرئيسية (QNA) and Qatar bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Qatar's Central Bank (QCB) has announced that all banks and financial institutions under its control (ie. all banks in Qatar) would be closed to the public on Sunday, March 4, 2012. [full story]

Cayman Islands Public Holiday In May 2013

Sources: Cayman Islands Government Information and Services (Grand Cayman) and Cayman Islands bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Cayman Islands' Premier, McKeeva Bush, has announced that the Cayman Islands Government would hold a referendum at the same time as the the May 2013 general election. [full story]

Portugal Carnival Public Holiday 2013

Sources: Agência Efe (Lisboa) and Portugal bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Portugal's Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Miguel Relvas, has announced that, in 2013, there would be no tolerância de ponto for public sector employees to take a non-working public holiday for the optional but widespread Shrove Tuesday Carnival. [full story]

Belgium Pentecost Public Holiday Faces The Ax

Sources: RTBF INFO (Brussels) and Belgium bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Belgium's Defense Minister, Pieter De Crem, has proposed a set of measures to reduce Belgium's budget deficit, including the cancellation of the annual Pentecost Monday public holiday. [full story]

Seychelles 2012 Public Holidays Amended

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Seychelles (Victoria) and Seychelles bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of the Seychelles has amended the recently-announced official list of non-working public holidays in the Seychelles for the calendar year 2012. [full story]

Latvian Orthodox Christmas Public Holiday Support

Sources: LETA News Agency (Riga) and Latvia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Latvian President, Andris Berzins, after a meeting with Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, has said that he believes that Eastern Orthodox Christmas should finally be recognized as a public holiday in Latvia. [full story]

Malaysian National Public Holiday April 11

Sources: Bernama News Agency (Kuala Lumpur) and Malaysian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Malaysian Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, has announced that Wednesday, April 11, 2012, has been declared as a one-off non-working national public holiday throughout Malaysia. [full story]

Thailand Financial Holiday April 9

Sources: ตลาดหลักทรัพย์แห่งประเทศไทย (Bangkok) and Thailand bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has announced that Monday, April 9, 2012, had also been declared a one-off non-working financial sector holiday. [full story]

Kuwait Financial Holidays February 26-27

Sources: جريدة القبس الرئيسية (Kuwait City) and Kuwaiti bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Kuwait Stock Exchange announced that it would also be closed Sunday and Monday, February 26 and 27, 2012, for the National Day and Liberation Day holidays. [full story]

Moldovan Public Holidays March 9

Sources: Agentia Informationala de Stat (Moldpres) and Moldovan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Moldova's Labour, Social Protection and Family Minister, Valentina Buliga, has announced that Friday, March 9, 2012, had been declared a one-off non-working public holiday in Moldova on account of the upcoming International Women's Day public holiday. [full story]

Armenian Public Holiday March 9

Sources: Հայերեն լրատվական գործակալությանը (ARMENPRESS) and Armenian bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Armenian Head of the Government Staff, David Sargsyan, has announced that the Armenian government will introduce a draft decision at tomorrow's Cabinet Session to declare a one-off public holiday on Friday, March 9, 2012, to link the Thursday, March 8, 2012, annual Women's Day public holiday, with the following weekend. [full story]

Maldives Public Holiday March 1

Sources: ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ އޮފީސް (Male) and Maldives bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Office of the President of the Maldives, Mohamed Waheed, has released a press communique indicating that, once again, a one-off public holiday had been declared in the Maldives, on the date of the the first sitting of the People’s Majlis for the year, Thursday, March 1, 2012. [full story]

Azerbaijan 2012 Novruz Public Holidays Extended

Sources: Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabineti (Baku) and Azerbaijan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers has issued a decision, extending the upcoming Novruz non-working public holidays in Azerbaijan to 7 consecutive days. [full story]

Nepalese Public Holiday February 22

Sources: नेपाली गृह मंत्रालय के मंत्रालय (Kathmandu) and Nepalese bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the government of Nepal had declared Wednesday, February 22, 2012, as a non-working public holiday on account of the upcoming Gyalbo Lhosar festival marking the beginning of the Sherpa New Year 2139. [20-Feb-2012]

France Armistice Public Holidays Amended

Sources: Le Figaro (Paris) and France public holidays (qppstudio.net). France's National Assembly have overwhelmingly voted to approve a law which would amend the November 11 annual Armistice non-working public holiday into a public holiday commemorating France's dead in all past conflicts. [full story]

Bhutanese Public Holiday February 24

Sources: Royal Civil Service Commission of Bhutan (Thimphu) and Bhutanese bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Royal Civil Service Commission of the Government of Bhutan has announced that Friday, February 24, 2012, had been declared a one-off additional non-working public holiday throughout Bhutan. [full story]

Pakistan 2012 Sindh Public Holidays Gazetted

Sources: Associated Press Of Pakistan (Karachi) and Pakistan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh has officially gazetted the list of 2012 regional public holiday in Province of Sindh. [full story]

Libyan Regional Public Holiday February 20

Sources: The Tripoli Post (Tripoli) and Libyan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The president of the electoral commission of the Libyan port city of Misrata, Mohammed Balrouin, has announced that the city council had declared Monday, February 20, 2012, as a one-off non-working public holiday in Misrata on account of the first anniversary of Misrata's rebellion and of the municipal elections both occurring on that date. [full story]