This monthly
recap of April 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.
Romania Declares May 2nd Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Mediafax) The Romanian Government has now announced that Friday, May 2, 2008, would be a one-off, full national public holiday, to bridge the gap between the public holiday of Labor Day and the weekend.
Nicaragua Declares May 2nd Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Cadena Global) Nicaragua's Ministry of Labor announced that Friday, May 2, 2008, would be a one-off, compulsory, bridge public holiday for both the public and private sectors.
Gibraltar Unions Renew Calls For Restoration Of May 1st Public Holiday (Source: Gibfocus) The TUC union has renewed its calls asking the Government to re-establish the 1st of May as the Labour Day public holiday (the date of the May Day public holiday was moved from May 1st to the first Monday in May, in 2007).
Ecuador Confirms May 2 Bridge Public Holiday Details (Source: CRE Satelital) Ecuador's Tourism Minister, Verónica Sión, announced that the 2008 Labour Day public holiday (Día del Trabajo) would remain on Thursday, May 1st, but that, in addition, Friday, May 2nd, 2008, would be a bridge public holiday, to be compensated by Saturday, May 10, 2008, being a regular working day.
Guam Will Add MLK Government Public Holiday Starting In 2009 (Source: Pacific Daily News) Lawmakers, yesterday, overrode the veto of Governor Felix Camacho hence adding the the third Monday of January as a new "GovGuam holiday" (public holiday limited to civil servants) in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. This will come into effect as of January 2009.
New Zealand Poll Suggests Growing Support For ANZAC Day As National Day (Source: Radio New Zealand) A recent poll shows that 38% of those questioned supported Anzac Day (April 25) being marked as New Zealand's national day, while 52% favoured keeping Waitangi Day as the national day.
Singapore Considering New May Public Holiday (Source: The Straits Times + the NFC) At a recent media conference, Family Council chairman, Lim Soon Hock, announced that May 24 had been designated "Family Day Out", and that he would push for the fourth Saturday of May a new public holiday to celebrate the family.
Australia Considering Additional NSW Public Holiday (Source: ABC News + News.com.au) The State Government of New South Wales (NSW) is said to be considering a new state-wide public holiday to compensate for the recently announced decision by Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, to deem industry-wide picnic days illegal under Labor's new workplace laws.
Macedonia Confirms Status Of Upcoming May 1st and 2nd (Source: Makfax Vesnik) Macedonia's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy issued a communique confirming that Thursday, May 1, 2008, was a non-working day (public holiday) throughout Macedonia, but that Friday, May 2nd, 2008, would be a regular working day.
South Korea's Corporations And Government Mostly Off May 1-5 (Source: Chosun) There are reports that many large corporations in South Korea have either given May 2nd, 2008, as a day off, or encouraged their workers to take a day of leave on that day, with the result that one can expect most banks, government services and large corporations to be hard to reach from May 1st to May 5th, 2008, inclusively. However, most department and discount stores are expected to remain open on May 2nd, and most small and medium-sized businesses are expected to work normally on both May 1st and 2nd.
Turkey's May Day Will Not Be A Public Holiday Turkey's government says it will again commemorate workers' day on May 1, starting in 2008, after a 28 year hiatus, but government spokesman Cemil Cicek says May Day will not be a public holiday.
Kazakhstan Declares May 2 Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Zakon) Kazakhstan's President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has issued a decree that makes Friday, May 2, 2008, a bridge public holiday (Thursday, May 1st, is already a public holiday). But, in compensation, Sunday, May 4th, 2008, will be a regular working day in Kazakhstan.
Turkey's Parliament Considers Reinstating May 1st Public Holiday (Source: Zaman) AK Party deputy, Agah Kafkas, has submitted to Parliament a proposal for May 1 to be restored as a public holiday in Turkey, to be celebrated as the Day of Unity and Solidarity (May 1st was a public holiday, called Spring Day, from 1935 until September 1980 military coup). Turkey's Labor Minister, Faruk Çelik, announced to reporters that he was in favor of the change and that the government would announce its decision on Monday, April 21, 2008.
Ecuador Preparing To Move Labour Day 2008 To May 2nd (Source: El Universo-Guayaquil) Despite last year's executive decree Nº 418 decree fixing public holidays for the period 2008-2011, once and for all (see our post of June 20, 2007), Ecuador's Tourism Minister, Verónica Sión, announced yesterday that her ministry was working on a decree that would move the 2008 observance of the Labour Day public holiday (Día del Trabajo) from Thursday, May 1st, to Friday, May 2nd, 2008.
Panama Labour Day 2008 To Remain On May 1st (Source: La Prensa) Panama's Secretary of State for Communication announced that the upcoming 2008 Labour Day public holiday would be observed on its traditional set date of May 1st (recall that Panama public holidays, except those of January 9 and November 28, need Presidential apprval to be moved to the nearest Monday, if their set fixed date falls in the middle of the week).
South Africa Extends 2010 Winter School Holidays To 5 Weeks (Source: The Daily News-Johannesburg) The education department is proposing a five-week school break (June 10 to July 12, 2010) during the 2010 Soccer World Cup to avoid pupil and teacher absenteeism and a chaotic transport system. With the FIFA World Cup starting on Friday, June 11, 2010, and the Youth Day public holiday on Wednesday, June 16, it is possible that June 14th and 15th, 2010, will be declared public holidays, being compensated by the cancellation of the days in lieu scheduled for the Human Rights' Day (March 21) and Day of Goodwill (December 26) public holidays, which fall on a weekend in 2010.
Botswana Declares May 2 Public Holiday (Source: Botswana Government Gazette) It was announced in the Government Gazette of April 7, that Botswana's President, Ian Khama, had declared that Friday, May 2, 2008, as a one-off bridge public holiday to compensate the fact that 2 public holidays fall on the same date in 2008, namely May 1st and Ascension Day.
Sudan Declares April 15 Census Public Holiday (Source: The Sudan Tribune) The Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced today that Tuesday, April 15, 2008, would be an official public holiday throughout Sudan to coincide with the implementation of the fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census.
Bermuda Establishes New October Public Holiday And Cancels Queen's Birthday Public Holiday (Source: The Bermuda Sun) The Government of Bermuda has decided to create a new holiday called "Heroes' Day", to be held for the first time on October 13, 2008. In addition it was announced that the Queen's Birthday public holiday, usually observed in mid-June, will no longer be observed, beginning in 2009.
Malawi Set To Restore Kamuzu Day Public Holiday Starting In 2008 (Source: The Daily Times-Lilongwe) Malawi's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, George Chaponda, has announced that Cabinet has approved the Parliamentary resolution of 2006 restoring Kamuzu Day as a public holiday, observed annually on May 14th, in honor of Malawi's first president Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
South Korea April 9 General Elections Day Public Holiday (Source: AFP and WSMV) The General Elections of tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, will be a partial public holiday, in the sense that government offices will be closed, and most businesses will either close, or will give 2-3 hours to its employees to go and vote.
Iraq Declares April 9 Nationwide Public Holiday (Source: ABC News) For the 5th anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, April 9, 2008, the Iraqi government has declared a one-off nationwide public holiday (usually this date is only observed as a public holiday in Kurdistan).
Sri Lanka Declares April 14 Additional Public Holiday (Source: Daily News-Colombo) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya to declare Monday, April 14, 2008, as a day in lieu public holiday as Sinhala and Tamil New Year falls on a Sunday in 2008.
Laos Confirms April 16 Day In Lieu Public Holiday (Source: Vientiane Times) The government has announced that Wednesday April 16 will be a day in lieu public holiday, in compensation for the first day of the Lao New Year public holiday, April 13, falling on a Sunday in 2008.
Canada's PEI Province Adds February Public Holiday (Source: CBC + The Chronicle Herald) The new Liberal government of the Province of Prince Edward's Island announced the creation of a new provincial public holiday, "Islander Day", to be held on the second Monday in February, beginning in 2009.
Nepal Declares April 7-11 CA Polls Public Holiday (Source: Nepal News) Following a cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office, earlier today, the government has announced five-day public holiday, to run from Monday-Friday, April 7-11, 2008, inclusively, on the occasion of the constituent assembly polls.
Nepal To Declare 4-Day Public Holiday For Upcoming CA Polls (Source: Nepal News) Nepal's Home Minister, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, has announced that the government is about to announce a four-day public holiday keeping in view the election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) on April 10. As Saturday is already the weekly day off in Nepal, and Sunday is a public holiday (Nepali New Year), this 4-day public holiday declaration is actually the declaration of Friday, April 11, 2008, as a bridge public holiday.
Macau Declares April 3 Civil Service Public Holiday (Source: The Macau Daily Times) It has been reported by Jose Pereira Coutinho, a lawmaker close to the Secretary for Administration and Justice, that the government will declare this Thursday, April 3, 2008, a one-off public holiday for civil servants. As Friday is already a full public holiday (Ching Ming), this means Macau civil servants will benefit from a 4-day holiday.
Ukraine Declares April 26-May 4 Public Holidays (Source: UNIAN) The Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukraine has issued a decree shifting the workdays of Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30, 2008, to the Saturdays of May 17 and 31, respectively, thereby bridging the gap between the Orthodox Easter and May Day public holidays. This means that Ukrainians will be on holidays for 9 consecutive days, from Saturday, April 26, to Sunday, May 4, 2008, inclusively.
Romania Declares May 2nd Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Mediafax) The Romanian Government has now announced that Friday, May 2, 2008, would be a one-off, full national public holiday, to bridge the gap between the public holiday of Labor Day and the weekend.
Nicaragua Declares May 2nd Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Cadena Global) Nicaragua's Ministry of Labor announced that Friday, May 2, 2008, would be a one-off, compulsory, bridge public holiday for both the public and private sectors.
Gibraltar Unions Renew Calls For Restoration Of May 1st Public Holiday (Source: Gibfocus) The TUC union has renewed its calls asking the Government to re-establish the 1st of May as the Labour Day public holiday (the date of the May Day public holiday was moved from May 1st to the first Monday in May, in 2007).
Ecuador Confirms May 2 Bridge Public Holiday Details (Source: CRE Satelital) Ecuador's Tourism Minister, Verónica Sión, announced that the 2008 Labour Day public holiday (Día del Trabajo) would remain on Thursday, May 1st, but that, in addition, Friday, May 2nd, 2008, would be a bridge public holiday, to be compensated by Saturday, May 10, 2008, being a regular working day.
Guam Will Add MLK Government Public Holiday Starting In 2009 (Source: Pacific Daily News) Lawmakers, yesterday, overrode the veto of Governor Felix Camacho hence adding the the third Monday of January as a new "GovGuam holiday" (public holiday limited to civil servants) in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. This will come into effect as of January 2009.
New Zealand Poll Suggests Growing Support For ANZAC Day As National Day (Source: Radio New Zealand) A recent poll shows that 38% of those questioned supported Anzac Day (April 25) being marked as New Zealand's national day, while 52% favoured keeping Waitangi Day as the national day.
Singapore Considering New May Public Holiday (Source: The Straits Times + the NFC) At a recent media conference, Family Council chairman, Lim Soon Hock, announced that May 24 had been designated "Family Day Out", and that he would push for the fourth Saturday of May a new public holiday to celebrate the family.
Australia Considering Additional NSW Public Holiday (Source: ABC News + News.com.au) The State Government of New South Wales (NSW) is said to be considering a new state-wide public holiday to compensate for the recently announced decision by Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, to deem industry-wide picnic days illegal under Labor's new workplace laws.
Macedonia Confirms Status Of Upcoming May 1st and 2nd (Source: Makfax Vesnik) Macedonia's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy issued a communique confirming that Thursday, May 1, 2008, was a non-working day (public holiday) throughout Macedonia, but that Friday, May 2nd, 2008, would be a regular working day.
South Korea's Corporations And Government Mostly Off May 1-5 (Source: Chosun) There are reports that many large corporations in South Korea have either given May 2nd, 2008, as a day off, or encouraged their workers to take a day of leave on that day, with the result that one can expect most banks, government services and large corporations to be hard to reach from May 1st to May 5th, 2008, inclusively. However, most department and discount stores are expected to remain open on May 2nd, and most small and medium-sized businesses are expected to work normally on both May 1st and 2nd.
Turkey's May Day Will Not Be A Public Holiday Turkey's government says it will again commemorate workers' day on May 1, starting in 2008, after a 28 year hiatus, but government spokesman Cemil Cicek says May Day will not be a public holiday.
Kazakhstan Declares May 2 Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Zakon) Kazakhstan's President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has issued a decree that makes Friday, May 2, 2008, a bridge public holiday (Thursday, May 1st, is already a public holiday). But, in compensation, Sunday, May 4th, 2008, will be a regular working day in Kazakhstan.
Panama Labour Day 2008 To Remain On May 1st (Source: La Prensa) Panama's Secretary of State for Communication announced that the upcoming 2008 Labour Day public holiday would be observed on its traditional set date of May 1st (recall that Panama public holidays, except those of January 9 and November 28, need Presidential apprval to be moved to the nearest Monday, if their set fixed date falls in the middle of the week).
South Africa Extends 2010 Winter School Holidays To 5 Weeks (Source: The Daily News-Johannesburg) The education department is proposing a five-week school break (June 10 to July 12, 2010) during the 2010 Soccer World Cup to avoid pupil and teacher absenteeism and a chaotic transport system. With the FIFA World Cup starting on Friday, June 11, 2010, and the Youth Day public holiday on Wednesday, June 16, it is possible that June 14th and 15th, 2010, will be declared public holidays, being compensated by the cancellation of the days in lieu scheduled for the Human Rights' Day (March 21) and Day of Goodwill (December 26) public holidays, which fall on a weekend in 2010.
Botswana Declares May 2 Public Holiday (Source: Botswana Government Gazette) It was announced in the Government Gazette of April 7, that Botswana's President, Ian Khama, had declared that Friday, May 2, 2008, as a one-off bridge public holiday to compensate the fact that 2 public holidays fall on the same date in 2008, namely May 1st and Ascension Day.
Sudan Declares April 15 Census Public Holiday (Source: The Sudan Tribune) The Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced today that Tuesday, April 15, 2008, would be an official public holiday throughout Sudan to coincide with the implementation of the fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census.
Bermuda Establishes New October Public Holiday And Cancels Queen's Birthday Public Holiday (Source: The Bermuda Sun) The Government of Bermuda has decided to create a new holiday called "Heroes' Day", to be held for the first time on October 13, 2008. In addition it was announced that the Queen's Birthday public holiday, usually observed in mid-June, will no longer be observed, beginning in 2009.
Malawi Set To Restore Kamuzu Day Public Holiday Starting In 2008 (Source: The Daily Times-Lilongwe) Malawi's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, George Chaponda, has announced that Cabinet has approved the Parliamentary resolution of 2006 restoring Kamuzu Day as a public holiday, observed annually on May 14th, in honor of Malawi's first president Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
Iraq Declares April 9 Nationwide Public Holiday (Source: ABC News) For the 5th anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, April 9, 2008, the Iraqi government has declared a one-off nationwide public holiday (usually this date is only observed as a public holiday in Kurdistan).
Sri Lanka Declares April 14 Additional Public Holiday (Source: Daily News-Colombo) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya to declare Monday, April 14, 2008, as a day in lieu public holiday as Sinhala and Tamil New Year falls on a Sunday in 2008. 
Laos Confirms April 16 Day In Lieu Public Holiday (Source: Vientiane Times) The government has announced that Wednesday April 16 will be a day in lieu public holiday, in compensation for the first day of the Lao New Year public holiday, April 13, falling on a Sunday in 2008.
Canada's PEI Province Adds February Public Holiday (Source: CBC + The Chronicle Herald) The new Liberal government of the Province of Prince Edward's Island announced the creation of a new provincial public holiday, "Islander Day", to be held on the second Monday in February, beginning in 2009.
Nepal Declares April 7-11 CA Polls Public Holiday (Source: Nepal News) Following a cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office, earlier today, the government has announced five-day public holiday, to run from Monday-Friday, April 7-11, 2008, inclusively, on the occasion of the constituent assembly polls.
Macau Declares April 3 Civil Service Public Holiday (Source: The Macau Daily Times) It has been reported by Jose Pereira Coutinho, a lawmaker close to the Secretary for Administration and Justice, that the government will declare this Thursday, April 3, 2008, a one-off public holiday for civil servants. As Friday is already a full public holiday (Ching Ming), this means Macau civil servants will benefit from a 4-day holiday.
Ukraine Declares April 26-May 4 Public Holidays (Source: UNIAN) The Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukraine has issued a decree shifting the workdays of Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30, 2008, to the Saturdays of May 17 and 31, respectively, thereby bridging the gap between the Orthodox Easter and May Day public holidays. This means that Ukrainians will be on holidays for 9 consecutive days, from Saturday, April 26, to Sunday, May 4, 2008, inclusively.