ILO backs GWU over public holidays

The International Labour Organisation's governing body has approved a recommendation that the recently introduced law on public holidays does not automatically render null any existing collective agreements.

General Workers' Union general secretary Tony Zarb said this meant that employers should respect collective agreements stating that employees should get a day added to their leave as compensation for public holidays falling on a weekend. He said the majority of workers, both in the public and the private sector, were protected by this clause.

In February of last year the government changed the National Holidays Act in a way that public holidays falling on weekends would not be compensated with extra days added to vacation leave.

Last September the union had lodged a formal complaint with the ILO's committee against the decision.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday, Mr Zarb said the ILO's recommendation was proof that the union had worked in the interest of the people.

"We are happy with the decision and so should the workers," he said, adding that the issue was still not closed for the GWU.

"In the coming weeks, the union will start working to ensure that the ILO decision is implemented by the government," he said.

The GWU would also fight so that workers would get a day added to their leave for every public holiday that fell on a weekend since the law came into force.

The ILO's governing body was discussing the issue yesterday, at the same time the press conference was being held, and Mr Zarb stopped to take a phone call informing him of the progress.

The recommendation, by the ILO's committee on freedom of association, also said that the law, introduced last year, does not preclude voluntary negotiations between unions and companies about the granting of an extra day leave in compensation for public holidays that fall on weekends.