Plan to Move Holidays to Sundays Rejected

TDT | Manama

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Bahrainis won’t see public holidays moved to Sundays anytime soon, as the government has turned down a plan to shift holidays to line up with the weekend. They said it was important to keep the true meaning of religious and national celebrations.

In a written reply to the Council of Representatives, the government agreed that the issue was important but stated that the suggested changes couldn’t be made at this time. Public holidays are currently governed by Amiri Decree No. (5) of 1973. This ensures that if a holiday falls on a Friday, Saturday, or another public holiday, an extra day off is provided.

‘The official holidays in Bahrain include religious events, which follow the Islamic calendar and vary each year,’ the government stated. ‘Some holidays might fall in the middle of the week one year, and at the beginning or end of another year. Other holidays are linked to national and civil occasions, which carry deep national, religious, and cultural significance. It is crucial to preserve their symbolic value.’

The government also pointed out that private sector workers are entitled to paid leave during public holidays, according to Law No. (36) of 2012. Employers can ask workers to work on these holidays, but they must either pay 150 percent of their wage or offer compensatory leave, depending on the worker’s choice. The government stressed the need to keep holiday rules fair for both the public and private sectors.

The plan to line up holidays with weekends aimed to provide more regularity but was rejected due to concerns that such changes could harm Bahrain’s economy, trade, and tourism.

‘Coordination between all sectors of employment is essential to balance the rights of all parties,’ the government response added, noting that the proposal’s potential impact needed thorough evaluation by relevant authorities.

While the proposal was turned down, the government expressed its appreciation to the Council of Representatives for raising the issue. ‘We remain determined to enhance cooperation with the Council within the framework of constructive and fruitful relations between the executive and legislative branches, for the benefit of our beloved nation,’ the response concluded.