Bahrainis won’t see public holidays moved to Sundays anytime soon, as the government has turned down a plan to shift holidays to line up with the weekend. They said it was important to keep the true meaning of religious and national celebrations. In a written reply to the Council of Representatives, the government agreed that the issue was important but stated that the suggested changes couldn’t be made at this time. Public holidays are currently governed by Amiri Decree No. (5) of 1973. This ensures that if a holiday falls on a Friday, Saturday, or another public holiday, an extra day off is provided. ‘The official holidays in Bahrain include religious events, which follow the Islamic calendar and vary each year, the government stated. ‘Some holidays might fall in the middle of the week one year, and at the beginning or end of another year. Other holidays are linked to national and civil occasions, which carry deep national, religious, and cultural significance. It is crucial to preserve their symbolic value.’ The government also pointed out that private sector workers are entitled to paid leave during public holidays, according to Law No. (36) of 2012. Employers can ask workers to work on these […]