Holiday change angers workers

Dubai: Residents working in the private sector feel that the shift of the holiday marking the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) birthday from Monday to Saturday is "discriminatory" as it strips them of a holiday that those in the public sector will enjoy.

Malcolm Kemp, a manager at an Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications company who has his weekends on Fridays and Saturdays, said: "Again, the poor private sector is stitched up regarding the forthcoming public holiday. The decision discriminates between the public and private sector. The Ministry of Labour is sadly out of touch if it assumes that most people in the private sector only have Friday off."

While the public sector will celebrate the holiday on Sunday, the ministry had announced that, for the private sector, the holiday would fall on Monday. But a circular issued by Minister of Labour Saqr Gobash on Sunday shifted the holiday to Saturday.

Some in the private sector have a one-day weekend, which falls on Friday, while others have a two-day weekend that includes Saturday. Those who have a two-day weekend would therefore miss out on the holiday if it falls on a Saturday.

Gobash had earlier told Gulf News that the change had been made for practical reasons.

"We did not want to cause an interruption between the public and private sectors, so we decided to change the holiday by connecting the weekend with the holiday," Gobash said.

Asked why the holiday was moved to a Saturday rather than a Sunday, given that many companies in the private sector have their weekends on Friday and Saturday, Gobash said: "As far as I know, the majority of companies in the private sector have only one day off, which is Friday. Having the holiday on Sunday would have caused another interruption..." Gobash said.

Ganesh Prabu, a manager at a service company who also has two-day weekends, said the ruling "is a glaring example of discrimination between the public and private sector employees. It is unfair just to give the public sector a connected holiday, while we in the private sector get deprived of the holiday".

However, Mohammad Omar, a sales engineer at a contracting company who only has Friday off, said: "I am happy that I will have Saturday off this week because I am always missing out on my friends' gatherings as they all have two-day weekends".

Khuram Anees, an employee of a consultancy firm, said that the holiday should be held on its official date regardless of what day of the week it is out of respect for religious occasions.

However, Dr Omar Al Khateeb, Assistant Director-General for Islamic Affairs in Dubai, told Gulf News that according to Islamic tradition it is not compulsory to have a holiday on the date marking the Prophet's birth. What is important is that it is a collective celebration of the Prophet's birth and a manifestation of love and respect for the Prophet.

"Although it does not really matter if the holiday is given a day or two in advance or after the actual occasion, it is still preferred [that it be held] on the same date of the Prophet's birth as the feeling would be much stronger," said Al Khateeb.

Why don't they put Thursday Holiday? It doesn't matter of the day. I feel it should be on the day of our beloved Prophet. This day is to mark our love to Prophet. Traditionally, on this day we praise him and memorise all the stories.
Habeeb
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 18:16

People who enjoy two days off usually work 10 hours or more daily. I am sue 50 % of the companies are off on Saturday and holiday on Sunday would have pleased everybody.
Saqeer . S.V
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 18:09

I think the holiday should be given in its original date especially if it is a Holy day. The idea of celebrating the holiday is to mark the anniversary or the occasion, etc. then to go to work or not to go to work on that day is another issue.
Walid Fawal
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 18:05

Being a Muslim i wana say that its an Islamic holiday its should be on that date because those Muslim who wants have to pray
Beenish
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 15:08

Private sector holiday on Saturday is not justified as the occassion of birth of Prophet falls two days after.
Ala'a
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 15:00

I believe holiday should be observed on the actual day. How can one alter such a thing?
Azmat
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 14:45

It's not a question of holiday but to perform the precious ocassion on the correct day. Milad is on Sunday not Saturday.
Mustafa Motiwala
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 14:45

I think it's a bad idea by changing the date, because it causes confusion. The date should be decided first before declaring it.
Nasco
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 14:40

Honestly, I am not at all in favour of moving the holiday from its original date i.e. Monday to Saturday. It makes no sense to celebrate any Islamic occasion before the original day.
From A Reader
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:52

I couldn't agree more! You can't have a day off for one sector and not the other.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:51

It surely became an unfair practice between public and private sector. Both sectors? employees are working. We rarely get holidays, and we are not even getting those. People are staying with infants, who are in day care all day. We were thinking we would be getting an off, but even that isn?t there now!
Binsi Thomas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:45

Actual birth date of Prophets Mohammad?s (PBUH) birthday is on 12th of Rabi Al Awal h. corresponding to 9th March. The holiday should be on the same day otherwise there should not be a holiday at all.
Mohammad Miyan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:44

Holiday should be given on the day of the occasion not before or after, if the holiday is on Saturday, people who already have a holiday are unhappy, and if the holiday is on Sunday everyone is happy.
Emran
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:44

It is a good decision. Most of the private companies only have Fridays off, so let them celebrate the Saturday off.
Prema Rajendran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:41

Holiday should be on the actual date for both Public and Private sector to preserve the original spirit and historic value of the occasion.
Syed Mazhar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:40

It seems that Saturday given as a private holiday is really good because as I know, a majority of the private sector companies have only Friday off, so it would be good for them to have Saturday off as well. Those who have Saturday as there week off, please excuse us because we also want to celebrate with our family a 2 day weekend.
Joe
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:32

I think the change of date for the holiday in celebration for the birthday of Prophet Mohammad is not reasonable unless it can interfere with more important celebration or occasion. I think we should celebrate on his exact birthday date as a sign of RESPECT.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:26

The holiday should be held on the day it should be (The prophet's birthday). How can they change such a thing. It's totally bizarre and discriminating to me!
Milad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:24

Nonsense! I am currently working as a Design Engineer, for the Dubai Metro Line. Those from the private sector working in the construction industry usually rest on Fridays. A lot of times, we even work on Fridays. Now look, who is out of touch? Don't be a frog in a well.
Bryant
Singapore,Singapore
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:22

It is unfortunate as many countries bank on the commercial aspect of public holidays to boost spending with in the economy. I would think that the global crisis would lead authorities in the UAE to decide otherwise.
Umica D
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 13:21

I only have Fridays off and I'm glad to be getting an extra day off this month. And I have to agree with the authorities in saying that most private sectors do have only Friday as an off.
Emma
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 12:54

You can't expect the government to please everyone. If you keep Sunday as a holiday, those who work on Saturday will have an interruption in their work week. If you keep Saturday off, those who already have a Fri/Sat weekend will complain. With a majority of the working population having only 1 day weekends, let them enjoy Saturday off. Those of us with 2 day weekends shouldn't complain!
Anthony
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 12:51

Think about those who work throughout the week without an off-day...Think about those who do not have a Job!Then you would feel happy.
Vino
ABU DHABI,UAE
Posted: March 04, 2009, 12:35