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Should May 1 be a holiday?

Thursday, 2 May 2024 06:30

After Labour Day marches yesterday, unions called on the government to make the day a national holiday.

Then head of the Syna Union, Johann Tscherrig, says the holiday would be a well-deserved token of recognition for employees. 

But the youth branch of the Liberal-Radical Party says May 1st demonstrations cause ‘chaos and material damage’ and said even the cantons that do have the day off should abolish the holiday. 

There are 8 cantons where May 1st is a day-off.

But it’s unlikely parliament would approve it. There’s already been a motion for a holiday on September 12th to mark the start of modern Switzerland in 1848. That got voted down by the Council of States. 

It’s estimated a public holiday costs the economy CHF 600m. 

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