The General Workers Union, on one side, and the government and employers, on the other, are at loggerheads again over the public holidays issue.

The GWU claims victory following a decision taken by the International Labour Organisation, with the government interpreting it as meaning that laws established by the Labour government 30 years ago should be changed. In the meantime, the Malta Employers’ Association has called for a reduction of public holidays.

It is on this issue that I would like to express my thoughts.

Fourteen public holidays may be too many or too little.

What I cannot understand is how a country could have five national holidays.

The five national holidays are 31 March (associated with Labour), 7 June, 8 September, 21 September (associated with the Nationalist Party) and 13 December (again associated with Labour).

Can’t we come to an agreement over one national holiday and celebrate it as one whole, united nation?

We cannot choose a day with a political background, so perhaps 8 September should be selected as the only national holiday.

As for the other public/national holidays that we celebrate, I think it will be hard to eliminate one or more, because of the controversy that would erupt.

P. Farrugia

San Gwann