Introducing three more bank holidays per year would lead to a happier more productive workforce, according to People Before Profit.
The party is introducing a new bill that would see public holidays celebrated on February 1st, the last Monday in September and the last Monday in November.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, People Before Profit (PBP) TD Richard Boyd Barrett said Ireland has the fewest bank holidays in Europe.
“The average across Europe is 12 bank holidays a year,” he said. “We have nine.
“In France, they have 16 public holidays and we also have a much lower level of Statutory holiday days.”
Stress
He said introducing three more public holidays would help people suffering from work-related stress.
“I actually think wellbeing and mental health are huge issues,” he said.
“We have a big mental health crisis in this country with a lot of people suffering from work-related stress, so I think, actually, by improving the quality of life of workers in this country, you will actually add to productivity.
“A happy workforce is a productive workforce and I think too many people are stressed out and I would reemphasize that all we are suggesting here is that the number of bank holidays would be increased to the EU average – and indeed many European have very considerably more bank holiday than that.”
The great Bank Holiday war of 2021 has begun. https://t.co/hX5Y6D8Nvb
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 30, 2021
Deputy Boyd Barrett said workers “have gone through a hell of a lot during the COVID pandemic” and suggested the proposal would go some way towards rewarding them.
He said the days put forward by PBP are all in months that currently do not have bank holidays.
“Really, the suggestion here, again in line with what is the norm across Europe, is that you would have at least one longer weekend – a Bank Holiday weekend – every month of the year,” he said.
“The first of February obviously is Lá Feile Bríde. It goes back actually before St Brigid, it actually is a pagan celebration of the transition from winter to spring, and I think most people would be very glad of an extra bank holiday at the end of that slightly dark winter and as we move towards spring – so I think that would an appropriate day.
“The other two months are months where currently we do not have a bank holiday so that is the suggestion.”
He called for a public consultation to decide “what aspect of history or culture” to celebrate for the other two days.
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