Manama: Bahrain's schools and public sector, on Tuesday, were given a four-day holiday to mark Eid next week.
The holiday period will start on Monday and continue until Thursday, according to a decision by Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, granting students and government employees a six-day break when the official days off are linked with the Friday-Saturday weekend.
The government regularly gives three days off for Eid and has recently started giving the ‘Arafat Mount Day’, the day preceding Eid, off as well, after politicians in the parliament passed a law relating to this matter.
The long holidays are likely to rekindle debate about time given to the private and public sectors in Bahrain. Several activists and columnists have called for days off to be the same across the board, making the public sector more attractive to Bahrainis because of the benefits and perks it offers.
Families have also called for the days to be the same so that all members can be present at organised events.
