Good Friday should be made a public holiday to end the “confusion” for workers that surrounds the day, The Labour Party has said.

Its spokesperson on workers’ rights, Senator Marie Sherlock, said some sectors take the day off like banks while others like retail and hospitality don’t.

Unfair

She told Newstalk this is unfair to workers and is calling for the day to be made an official public holiday once and for all.

“On Good Friday, especially after they changed things with pubs, nobody knows what’s happening,” said Senator Sherlock.

“This is a question of basic fairness for workers as we know that in some sectors it is a normal working day, like in retail and hospitality.

“But if you look at banks and public services like libraries and other services - they are closed today.”

A man working in an office. Credit: Roman Lacheev / Alamy Stock Photo

Senator Sherlock said it’s time for change.

“I think there is a lot of confusion and I think consistency in how workers are treated on Good Friday is needed now,” she said.

“Some workplaces will give their workers the day off, some workplaces will give workers a day off in lieu, in respect of coming in, and others will just be paid the standard rate.”

International standards

Senator Sherlock said Ireland falls below international standards for public holidays.

“Good Friday has always been a unique day in the Irish calendar, not only in Ireland but in Britain as well and we believe it should become a public holiday,” she said.

“The reality is Ireland has relatively few public holidays in comparison to other EU member states.

“I think this would be a question of formalising the day and ensuring that if people do work, they get paid properly for it, in respect of it being a public holiday.

“If companies choose not to open, it’s a day off as opposed to people being forced to take holidays in respect of the day.”

Senator Sherlock said the “huge amount of confusion” workers in Ireland experience on Good Friday needs to stop.

Main image: Labour Senator Marie Sherlock on the plinth at Dáil Éireann, 01-09-2020. Image: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland