The Federation of Unions of South Africa says President Cyril Ramaphosa should seriously consider proclaiming December 27, 2022 as a paid public holiday.
THE FEDERATION of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) says its leadership has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, requesting an additional paid public holiday in December this year.
The trade union federation says during this year, working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays as Christmas falls on Sunday.
“The matter was raised that Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, and in terms of the Public Holidays Act, ‘whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday’. Consequently, Monday, December 26, 2022, the Day of Goodwill, will then be deemed to fall outside of the ambit of the Public Holidays Act,” said Fedusa.
The federation said, therefore, the government should consider making December 27 a paid public holiday.
Fedusa general secretary Riefdah Ajam says the union 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 twelve paid public holidays.
“The federation believes that this gesture will go a long way in strengthening workers’ morale considering their difficulties faced, whilst boosting economic activity during the festive season,” she said.
