The Leadership of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) has written to president Cyril Ramaphosa, requesting an additional paid Public Holiday in December 2022.
This appeal comes after it was brought to the attention of Fedusa’s leadership that Christmas Day will fall on a Sunday this year – meaning that working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays.
According to section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act, 1994, “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday”.
However, Monday following the 25 December 2022 is already a public holiday (Day of Goodwill), meaning workers do not get the benefits of 12 public holidays this year as two days would fall on the same day.
In 2016, when Christmas Day also fell on a Sunday, Cosatu lobbied for an extra public holiday in December. Following this request, then-president Jacob Zuma declared 27 December 2016 a public holiday.
Seven years later, trade unions are hoping for the same result.
“Fedusa remains resolute that working South Africans should not be dealt with a further injustice to their income security, already eroded during Covid-19, and must therefore be able to enjoy their full 12 paid public holidays,” the group said in a statement.
Fedusa added that this gesture would go a long way in strengthening workers’ morale, considering the difficulties they’ve faced in 2022. It said that declaring an additional holiday would also help boost economic activity during the festive season.
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