Politics debated
Will weekend holidays 2021 be made up on Mondays?
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Many public holidays fall on a weekend in 2021. Now politicians are discussing making up for this – and planning days off as a corona bonus.
The holidays provide a little glimmer of hope in the working sky every year when we look forward to a few free days and the associated four-day weeks. Unless it's the year 2021, because that doesn't mean it well to us: This time, many holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday – and spark another discussion on how to deal with them.
Apparently, politicians are currently debating whether the holidays, which fall on a weekend in 2021, should be rescheduled on another day. This is the case, for example, on Labor Day on Saturday, May 1, 2021, but also on German Unity Day on Sunday, October 3, 2021. This could be offset, for example, by a day off on Monday.
Politicians are calling for weekend holidays to be made up for
As reported by the Saarbrücker Zeitung, SPD parliamentary deputy Dirk Wiese campaigns for this type of holiday regulation. He suggests viewing them as a "corona bonus" for the working population, who are currently exposed to greater stress due to the pandemic.
The left generally advocates a reduction in working hours. The catch-up regulation would be a step in this direction. Federal Managing Director Jörg Schindler told the Saarbrücker Zeitung: "I propose that public holidays, which are already work-free for employees, have to be compensated for with a day off." After all, it is in fact an extension of working hours if the holidays are canceled or fall on a weekend.
Several parties support the holiday debate
The Greens also advocate automatically catching up on the weekend holidays 2021 on the following Monday. The party stresses the need for public holidays for people to relax – especially as pressures rise.
So far, the catch-up regulation for public holidays is still a requirement. However, this comes from several parties. Such a regulation is already common practice in other European countries – in Belgium and Spain, for example. Now it remains to be seen whether Germany will follow suit.
Sources used: Saarbrücker Zeitung, RTL