Who is the lucky public?

2009-05-18 09:35

Chris Moerdyk

I'm certainly not complaining about all these public holidays we have at this time of the year, I am just battling to understand them.

I mean, just who is this lucky public who has public holidays?

Many years ago a public holiday meant that everyone with the exception of the emergency services, stopped working.

Shops closed, movies closed, everything that could possibly be closed was closed and virtually the entire population went off and had fun.

But these days, it's actually quite hard to find that elusive "public" that is fortunate enough to have a holiday on a public holiday. I've spoken to a lot of people in chain stores and shops and most of them say they have no option but to work on public holidays.

It seems to me that the only places that celebrate public holidays are politicians and people who work in offices, but then sometimes only senior people who work in offices while the junior people making sure the manufacturing plants keep running.

The only conclusion I can come to is that public holidays are seriously elitist because only the privileged seem to get the day off while the workers have to keep grafting.

And those that do have to keep grafting get paid extra for working on public holidays which means that public holidays nowadays don't really mean "holidays" as in "no work" but rather "holidays" in terms of being paid a double salary bonus for a day.

One has to ask the question whether this is an intelligent way to run a country.

It is hugely disruptive, it costs the economy billions and is therefore a very, very expensive luxury from which only a few people are benefitting.

I reckon we must either go back to the concept of a public holiday being a holiday from work for the entire public, or we must look at another way of celebrating important milestones and anniversaries that doesn't just benefit a privileged few.

Send your comments to Chris.

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...should be scrapped, in total. I mean, come on - what's the sense of a Muslim getting Christmas Day off? I think that everybody should get 12 days to use as and when they see fit per year, on top of their actual holidays. And then scrap all public holidays - then the Christians will take off their days, the Muslims will take off theirs, and the Government does not acknowledge either religion above the other. If you want to take of Freedom Day, you will. If you don't, you won't.

I know MANY employees who make good use of public holidays. Those in the retail sector know what their working conditions are prior to taking the job, so what's the fuss? See how empty the roads are on public holidays.

Yep agreed Ken, I would alo like to see them spread out a bit more (over the year) and then only on Mondays and Fridays aswell. The idea of a midweek break is good for the "workers" but it play havoc with any business, just ask anyone who owns their own business, it actually "costs" about 2 days for every 1 day off during the week in many instances.

South Arfica may be the country with the most public holidays in the world. Just think about what that would mean if everybody took the day off throughout the country - billions of Rands in lost production and commerce! You're complaining that people don't all get their public holidays, but the fact that people work on those holidays means our country makes more money instead of losing even more commerce! I say less holidays, more work!

It seems you have a case of Whine Flu. You really went and looked for something to complain about, and the best you could do was public holidays... Well, I get the day off, I work in an office, my domestic worker gets the day off (paid of course), so do millions of others. Retail and other sectors that rely on consumers actually physically being there do more business on PH's than on normal days, so it makes business sense to stay open. Find something worthwhile to whine about.

If the workers are hardly ever off, and only a few people benefit, how is it costing the economy billions? In my opinion the economy should be reaping the benefits of workers working, and the elitists spending? Maybe someone can explain?

I do think that April is a bugger up. But lets face it, those that do end up working public holidays usually have more flexible working hours than those stuck in offices. Very disruptive... perhaps they could confine public holidays to mondays/fridays. But then again many holidays are linked to a date for a reason, so don't see that happening anytime soon either.

We run our own business and take all public holidays off, it gives our staff and ourselves a well deserved rest in return for the long hours we work and our customers very quickly got used to the idea. We no longer concern ourselves with lost production, less turnover etc and the fact that the business is thriving speaks for itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_holidays_by_country...we don't have the most holidays! give us a break - it's wonderful to start a week that you know will be a day short - bliss! being from the currently disadvantaged must have some advantages!

I think some columnist do not have anything to write about...what's the fuss about teh public holidays! Beleive me if i had a choice to work for double the pay - i would take it. I'm, not sure if thoise people earning the money r complaining at all...I havr personally enjoyed all these public holidays - You aren't gonna see many holidays going forward so u will probably have nothing to wriote about

You are an idiot. What a silly thing to focus on and make it religion based. If we start applying religious holidays in this country, we would have to follow the calendars for each religion and apply that factor in to businesses across the country. Think of the economic impact of that.

As an economist I can assure you that the bulk of these claculations that claim that public holidays cost the country "billions" are based on some very shaky assumptions. Those who work, get paid double, increasing their incomes & spending power. Those off work are typically spending elsewhere: weekend away, restaurants, flights,activities etc etc.

What I don't like about the April public holidays is that you have to cram all your work into about 16 days instead of the usual 20. If I were able to do my work in 16 days every month, I could justify to my company to work a four day week throughout the year. Those who feel comfortable in taking holidays therefore are just being plain unproductive, and thereby a poor investment for employers.