HSBC clarifies stand on weekend holidays

HSBC Bank Malta said yesterday it had not agreed to grant additional leave for public holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday "if the government changes the law".

The bank was referring to media reports carried yesterday quoting a General Workers Union statement on the collective agreement reached with HSBC.

The bank said the reports suggested that it had agreed to grant the additional leave if the government changes the law.

"HSBC wishes to state that this is absolutely incorrect and there is no such agreement with the GWU. HSBC will always act within the spirit and the letter of the law, and this was made clear in the negotiations," the bank said.

In a counter statement issued yesterday evening, the GWU said clause 2(e) of the agreement signed by the bank management and the union laid down that "in the event of a public holiday falling on a Sunday or a non-working day, one day leave will be added to the employees' annual leave".

The union said that if the bank management were to fail to honour the collective agreement, it would take action to safeguard the interests of its members.

Contacted yesterday, Karmenu Vella, GWU services and media section secretary, said that if the government changed the law, the union would take appropriate measures.

"But the law has not changed yet and, as laid down in the agreement, which stands till the end of 2007, HSBC bank employees are entitled to additional leave for public holidays falling on Saturdays and Sundays," Mr Vella said.