March 2008 Bank Holidays and Public Holidays

Public Holidays News March 2008

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This monthly recap of March 2008 worldwide public holidays news and updates, covers all the countries of the world, and is based on our daily review of hundreds of online newspapers, government sites, and institutional sources, and over a decade of experience following worldwide public holidays, to place current events in context, and anticipate on possible future changes. Available as free weekly or monthly email newsletters.
Date	Country	News Item Summary
31-Mar-2008	Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Readies To Re-Introduce Austerity Fridays (Source: Marianas Variety) - Summary: Parliament is about to vote whether to reintroduce austerity Fridays, whereby government offices close every other Friday, and employees who do not work on official CNMI holidays are not be paid for that day. Links: full story and other Northern Mariana Islands news and updates.
31-Mar-2008	American Samoa	American Samoa Legislation To Make Election Day A Public Holiday (Source: Radio New Zealand International) - Summary: American Samoa Senator, Dr Paul Stevenson, has sponsored legislation making election day in American Samoa a public holiday. If the bill, introduced last Friday, is passed, then it would bring the total number of government holidays to 12. Links: other American Samoa news and updates.
30-Mar-2008	Pakistan	Pakistan's PPP Demands April 4 And December 27 Public Holidays (Source: The News-Karachi) - Summary: The parliamentary party of the PPP has demanded that April 4 And December 27, the death anniversaries of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, respectively, be declared national holidays. Links: other Pakistan news and updates.
27-Mar-2008	Singapore	Singapore Revises Date Of 2008 Deepavali Public Holiday (Source: Private communication from the Hindu Endowments Board-Singapore) - Summary: The Hindu Endowments Board has revised the date for Singapore's 2008 Deepavali public holiday, from Tuesday, October 28, to Monday, October 27. Links: full story and other Singapore news and updates.
26-Mar-2008	Vietnam	Vietnam Declares Two Financial Bridge Holidays (Source: State Securities Commission of Vietnam) - Summary: The State Securities Commission of Vietnam has declared that due to the public holidays of April 15 and May 1st, it had declared Monday, April 14 and Friday, May 2, 2008 to be exchange holidays in Vietnam. Links: full story and other Vietnam news and updates.
26-Mar-2008	Kuwait	Kuwait Spells Out Rules For Mid-Week Public Holidays (Source: The Arab Times) - Summary: The Civil Service Commission of Kuwait (CSC) gave details of the latest changes made to the official holidays list, clarifying which public holidays are to remain on their set date, and which public holidays were to move to the adjoining weekend. Links: full story and other Kuwait news and updates.
26-Mar-2008	Thailand	Thailand Declares Extended Songkran Public Holidays (Source: National News Bureau of Thailand-Bangkok) - Summary: Thailand's Deputy Spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister, Wirintira Nathongbohjarat, has announced that the cabinet had decided to declare an additional day of public holiday for the upcoming Songkran public holidays. Links: full story and other Thailand news and updates.
24-Mar-2008	France	France Recognizes Shavuot As An Official Holiday (Source: EJP-European Jewish Press) - Summary: The Jewish festival of Shavuot has been added to the Journal Officiel (the government's gazette). This does not mean that Shavuot festival will become a general public holiday in France, but as the festival falls in May or June annually (at the time of school final exams) Jewish students will now be allowed to take exams at different dates. Links: other France news and updates.
20-Mar-2008	Turkey	Turkey's Parliament Considering Making Nevruz A National Holiday (Source: Turkish Daily News) - Summary: Turkey's Parliament decided to discuss a draft bill that will make the traditional Nevruz festival celebrated, by the Kurds of Turkey, on March 21, a national public holiday. Links: other Turkey news and updates.
20-Mar-2008	Ecuador	Ecuador Clarifies Good Friday Observance For Public Sector (Source: Presidencia del Ecuador) - Summary: The government human resources department has confirmed that Friday, March 21, 2008 (Good Friday) was a paid public holiday for all civil servants, but that the day before, Thursday, March 20, would be a regular working day. Links: full story and other Ecuador news and updates.
20-Mar-2008	India	India Declares March 22 Day In Lieu Regional Public Holiday (Source: Deccan Herald-Karnataka) - Summary: Most of the Governments of Indian States where the Prophet's Birthday (Id-e-Milad-un-Nabi) is a public holiday, have declared a day in lieu, on Saturday, March 22, 2008, to compensate for the fact that the public holiday of Good Friday occurs on that same date, and in many cases also the Hindu public holiday of Holi (or Holikadahana, depending on the State). Links: other India news and updates.
20-Mar-2008	Oman	Oman Declares March 22 Day In Lieu Public Holiday (Source: Khaleej Times-Muscat) - Summary: Oman has declared a day in lieu public holiday on Saturday, March 22, 2008, to compensate the fact that The Prophet's birthday (Milad Al Nabi) falls on an Omani weekend day this year. Links: other Oman news and updates.
19-Mar-2008	Liberia	Liberia Declares March 21 Public Holiday (Source: The Analyst-Monrovia) - Summary: Friday, March 21, 2008, has been declared a national public holiday, to coincide with the first day of the first Liberian census in 24 years. Links: other Liberia news and updates.
19-Mar-2008	Romania	Romania April 2-4 Government And School Holiday For NATO Summit (Source: Balkan Insight) - Summary: The government announced a special 3-day municipal holiday to coincide with the upcoming NATO Summit. From Wednesday, April 2-4, 2008, Bucharest school pupils, students and most civil servants in the Romanian capital will be on holiday. Links: other Romania news and updates.
18-Mar-2008	South Africa	South Africa One-Off May 2nd Public Holiday (Source: Eyewitness News-Johannesburg) - Summary: South African President, Thabo Mbeki, will declare Friday May 2, 2008, a one-off bridge public holiday, to compensate for the fact that the 2 public holidays of Human Rights Day and Good Friday occur on the same day, March 21, in 2008. Links: full story and other South Africa news and updates.
18-Mar-2008	Romania	Romania Adds 2 Days Of Pentecost As Public Holidays (Source: Adevarul) - Summary: Romania's lower house of parliament (Camerei Deputatilor) has adopted a law that adds the 2 days of Pentecost, Whitsunday and Whitmonday, to the official list of public holidays in Romania. Links: full story and other Romania news and updates.
18-Mar-2008	Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe Declares March 29 Public Holiday (Source: IOL + AFP) - Summary: President Mugabe has declared Saturday, March 29, 2008, a public holiday to enable workers to vote in the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. Links: full story and other Zimbabwe news and updates.
18-Mar-2008	UAE	UAE Announces March 20 Private And Public Sector Holiday (Source: Civil Service Bureau-Dubai) - Summary: A circular issued today by Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash, announced that the private sector will join ministries, public departments and institutions in enjoying a long weekend, with Thursday, March 20, 2008, being declared a public holiday for the public and private sector to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Links: full story and other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.
17-Mar-2008	Kyrgyzstan	President Bakiev Signs March 24 Public Holiday Law (Source: AKI Press) - Summary: President Bakiev has signed the law making March 24 an annual public holiday, People's Revolution Day, which had finally been voted by parliament on March 13. Links: full story and other Kyrgyzstan news and updates.
17-Mar-2008	Iraq	Iraq Changes Prophet's Birthday Public Holiday Date (Source: Aswat Aliraq) - Summary: The Iraqi Cabinet has announced that the upcoming Prophet's Birthday public holiday would occur on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, rather than the expected date of Thursday, March 20, 2008. Links: other Iraq news and updates.
16-Mar-2008	Bermuda	Bermuda Restores May 24 Public Holiday Name To Bermuda Day (Source: The Royal Gazette-Hamilton) - Summary: A few months after it made the change, faced with widespread negative public reactions, the Government of Bermuda has announced that it was restoring the May 24th public holiday name from National Heroes' Day to its original form of Bermuda Day. Links: full story and other Bermuda news and updates.
15-Mar-2008	Pakistan	Pakistan's Sindh Province Declares Additional Public Holiday On March 20 (Source: The News-Karachi) - Summary: The Governor of Sindh (which contains Karachi) announced an additional public holiday in the province on 11th Rabiul Awal (Thursday, March 20, 2008), in addition to 12th Rabiul Awal (The Prophet's Birthday). Links: other Pakistan news and updates.
15-Mar-2008	Honduras	Honduras Declares March 17-19 Public Sector Holidays (Source: Proceso Digital-Tegucigalpa) - Summary: The government of Honduras has announced that government workers will benefit from 3 extra public sector holidays in 2008, from March 17-19. Links: full story and other Honduras news and updates.
13-Mar-2008	Philippines	Philippines Declares March 22 Public Holiday (Source: Malaca�ang Palace-Manila) - Summary: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation No.1471 declaring Saturday, March 22, 2008, as a special non-working public holiday throughout the country, to coincide with Black Saturday. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
12-Mar-2008	Macedonia	Macedonia Tree Planting Public Holiday Today (Source: Balkan Insight) - Summary: The government of Macedonia declared today a national public holiday to enable the maximum number of people to participate in today's plant your future campaign which is part of a programme that envisages planting some 10 million trees by the end of 2008. Links: full story and other Macedonia news and updates.
12-Mar-2008	Antigua and Barbuda	Antigua and Barbuda Declares March 18 Public Holiday (Source: The Antigua Sun) - Summary: Tuesday, March 18, 2008, will be a public holiday in Antigua and Barbuda on the occasion of the funeral of former Prime Minister, Sir George Herbert Walter. Links: full story and other Antigua and Barbuda news and updates.
12-Mar-2008	S�n�gal	S�n�gal Declares March 13 One-Off Public Holiday for OCI Conference (Source: Walf Fadjri + African Global News) - Summary: Thursday, March 13, 2008 has been declared a one-off public holiday (jour f�ri�, ch�m� et pay�) on the occasion of the 11th OCI conference (Organisation de la Conf�rence Islamique). Links: other S�n�gal news and updates.
11-Mar-2008	Kyrgyzstan	Kyrgyzstan Parliament Confirms New March 24 Public Holiday (Source: Central Asian News) - Summary: The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan is about to vote to confirm the recently added March 24 National Revolution Day public holiday. Links: other Kyrgyzstan news and updates.
11-Mar-2008	Iran	Iran Announces Official Public Holidays For 1387 (Source: Islamic Consultative Assembly-Majlis) - Summary: Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly has approved the list of official public holidays in Iran for the Persian year 1388, running from March 2008, to March 2009. Links: full story and other Iran news and updates.
11-Mar-2008	China	China To Consider August 8 Public Holiday (Source: Agencia Digital de Noticias) - Summary: The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is currently considering a proposal by political advisor Mao Yulin to make August 8 (the date of the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing) an annual public holiday called Sports Day. Links: other China news and updates.
11-Mar-2008	South Africa	South Africa's Unions Asking For March 20 Public Holiday (Source: The Times of South Africa) - Summary: the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) asked South African President, Thabo Mbeki, to make Thursday, March 20, 2008, a one-off public holiday. Links: full story and other South Africa news and updates.
11-Mar-2008	Costa Rica	Costa Rica December 31 Bank Holiday (Source: National NCS) - Summary: Costa Rican banks and financial institutions will be closed on Wednesday, December 31, 2008. Links: other Costa Rica news and updates.
10-Mar-2008	Nicaragua	Nicaragua Government Holidays March 15-23 (Source: La Voz del Sandinismo-Managua) - Summary: Labour Minister, Yanet Ch�vez, announced that civil servants and employees of state-run enterprises would benefit from paid holidays from Saturday, March 15, to Sunday, March 23, 2008, inclusively. Links: other Nicaragua news and updates.
9-Mar-2008	Samoa	Samoa Reconsidering Its Head Of State Birthday Public Holiday (Source: The Samoa Observer-Apia) - Summary: Chief executive officer for the prime minister�s office, Vaasatia Poloma Komiti announced that the government may not declare a new public holiday on March 1st, the birthday of the new head of State, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi. Links: full story and other Samoa news and updates.
8-Mar-2008	Azerbaijan	Azerbaijan Extends 2008 Novruz Public Holiday To Last 9 Days (Source: APA + ANS) - Summary: The Cabinet of Ministers announced that the weekend days of March 29-30, would be regular working days, in exchange of which, Thursday and Friday, March 27-28, 2008, will be one-off bridge public holidays. Links: full story and other Azerbaijan news and updates.
8-Mar-2008	Malta	Malta Businesses and Schools Expected To Come To A Standstill On March 10 (Source: The Times of Malta) - Summary: Business is likely to come to a standstill on Monday, March 10, 2008, especially in the capital, Valletta, and Sliema, as the island goes through the post-general election result routine, usually meaning traffic-clogged roads and widespread celebrations by supporters of the winning party. Links: full story and other Malta news and updates.
7-Mar-2008	Nepal	Nepal Adds 18 New Public Holidays (Source: The Press Trust of India) - Summary: Nepal's Cabinet announced that it was adding 18 new public holidays. Among those mentioned are: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Christmas, the Birthday of Guru Nanak, Ubhauli Udhyauli, Goura, both Lhosars (Tamu and Sonam), Siruwa and Maghi. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.
6-Mar-2008	Chile	Chile Extends Summertime By Three Weeks (Source: La Nacion) - Summary: Chile will extend this year's summertime hours for another three weeks, until March 29, instead of the scheduled date of March 8. Links: other Chile news and updates.
5-Mar-2008	Philippines	Philippines Declares March 10 Regional Public Holiday In Bukidnon (Source: GMA News) - Summary: President Arroyo (PGMA) issued Proclamation No. 1461, declaring Monday, March 10, 2008, as a special non-working day in Bukidnon, on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the province's foundation. Links: other Philippines news and updates.
5-Mar-2008	Iran	Iran Set To Declare A One-Off Nuclear Public Holiday (Source: Trend News-Baku) - Summary: The government of Iran is preparing to mark a Nuclear Holiday to raise the mood of the population. No date was mentioned, yet, but last year, Iran celebrated a National Day of Nuclear Technology on April 7. Links: other Iran news and updates.

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