National Day: An extra day off for employees in UAE

Granting an extra day off to employees ahead of the actual National Day holiday on December 2 will club together enough days for a mini-holiday of sorts for those working in the private sector.

The Ministry of Labour confirmed on Monday that those private sector employees with a single Friday weekend will also enjoy Saturday for a two-day holiday while those who already enjoy a Friday-Saturday weekend can add Sunday for a three-day respite.

Public sector employees, meanwhile, will receive two days off on Sunday and Monday and will return to work on Tuesday. The public-sector holiday was approved at a Cabinet meeting  on Sunday.

The Cabinet decided to bring the National Day holidays forward to December 1 and 2. A top official at the ministry of labour told Gulf News all companies in the private sector should adhere to the rules. “Companies are not allowed to make their employees work during their National Dday holiday,”