Algeria: Inauguration of the new weekly holidays

ALGIERS- Algeria has inaugurated the new system of weekly rest, now set by the Government on Friday and Saturday instead of Thursday and Friday established in 1976, providing greater flexibility in economic and financial relations with its partners.

•     The World Bank had estimated at one billion dollars per year the amount owing to the country caused by the mismatch between the observed holidays in Algeria, and most states.
  
      "Leave on Thursday and Friday penalized us because we could not come into contact with our foreign counterparts on Saturday and Sunday, days of rest in these countries. There remained three days to be effective," said Karima, who operates in an administration in relation to European companies.
  
      Many large private companies have long adopted this semi universal weekend on Friday and Saturday, as banks, insurance companies or embassies and consulates.
  
      The Forum of Heads of Enterprises (CFE) in Algeria, one of the largest organizations in the country, had in 2007 invited the leaders of private companies to adopt the mixed weekly rest.
  
      The ministry council endorsed this fact on 21 July, with its entry into force on 14 August, but held on Friday as the "official holiday".
  
      Administrations and public enterprises, therefore, observe the pace of new leaves, however, to be adapted to their obligations, the public service to be continuously insured, stressed the government.
  
      The streets of Algiers were nearly deserted Friday, but several newsstands in particular were open, most newspapers reported on Saturday their day of non issue.
  
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.