Portugal scraps four public holidays in austerity drive

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

8 May 2012 Last updated at 22:47 GMT

Portugal has taken austerity measures to a new level with the decision to scrap four of its 14 public holidays.

Two religious festivals and two other public holidays will be suspended for five years from 2013.

The decision over which Catholic festivals to cut was negotiated with the Vatican.

Portugal has already cut public sector wages and raised taxes to reduce its budget deficit and deal with its economic crisis.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17998937

[Nye Bevan]

1. Wow, they're down to only 10 public holidays now?

That's just inhuman.

[Skittles]

2. 14 that's a lot of public holidays

heck, 10 is a lot

[Art_from_Ark]

7. Japan has 15 national holidays

New Year's Day
Coming-of-Age Day
Founding of Japan Day
Spring Equinox Day
Showa Emperor's (Hirohito's) Birthday
Constitution Day
Green Day
Children's Day
Sea Day
Respect for the Elderly Day
Autumn Equinox Day
Sports Day
Culture Day
Labor-Thanksgiving Day
Heisei Emperor's Birthday

[msongs]

3. cut all the catholic days. they belong to the church nt

[harmonicon]

4. How does this help?

Were they paid holidays for government employees?

[AngryAmish]

5. What are the holidays in the US?

Labor, Memorial, MLK, Christmas, Presidents, thanksgiving x2, columbus? Am I missing some?

edit: veterans, 4th of J, washington's but take away friday after thanksgiving.

[4th law of robotics]

6. Federal workers get 10 days:

http://www.opm.gov/operating_status_schedules/fedhol/2012.asp

I'm not sure what it is for everyone else. I guess it's by a state-by-state or on the individual company.

[Skittles]

8. I get 7

maybe 8 - LOL, I can't remember