Some countries observe international days as public holidays. Why not solve the impasse about giving back to workers (and owners/managers) a number of days as public holidays to celebrate internationally recognised special days instead of those public holidays which fall on weekends and which had been removed in 2008?

What was deemed necessary at the height of the financial crisis should not be kept during this era of the best times for Malta and Gozo (l-ahjar zmien). What was considered an appropriate 'stealth' measure at the height of the international financial crisis, when, rather than introduce a week's wage deduction, five or more work days were deducted from a larger number of economic agents (workers) but which translated to the same thing? As a measure of goodwill how about Minister Bartolo tabling in Cabinet that International Teachers' Day be declared a public holiday as well as International Grandparents Day?

I am also sure that people with different talents would welcome recognition of the great hardships nature has thrown at them if in early December, in the week dedicated to highlighting their special needs, one day was also given as a public holiday. Adhering to the United Nations should be by more practical means than paying lip service; recognising mandated UN International Days would give a moral boost to this institution which perhaps has never before been buffeted by such strong headwinds.

 

C. Grech