The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) says it has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request an additional paid Public Holiday for workers in December this year.
Fedusa Secretary-General Riefdah Ajam says the federation’s leadership was alerted that working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays. Ajam says the matter was raised as Christmas will fall on a Sunday 25th while Monday 26th, Day of Goodwill, is another public holiday.
In a statement, Ajam says whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday as provided for in terms of the Public Holidays Act. However she says the holiday of Day of Goodwill on the 26th December, will therefore fall outside the ambit of the Act.
Ajam says Fedusa believes that President Ramaphosa should seriously consider proclaiming 27 December 2022 as a paid Public Holiday.
Fedusa says working South Africans should not be dealt with what is calls “a further injustice to their income security, already eroded during COVID-19, and must therefore be able to enjoy their full twelve paid public holidays”.
It says this gesture will go a long way in strengthening the morale of workers who are facing difficulties while boosting economic activity during the festive season.
