Extended festive holiday for civil servants
Civil servants will again this year proceed on an extended Christmas and New Year festive holiday from Wednesday December 28 2022 to Tuesday January 3 2023.
Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Janet Banda said in a statement yesterday that civil servants will wind up their duties on Friday, December 23 2022 and return to work on Wednesday, January 4 2023.
Reads the statement in part: “Please note that the granting of this extended period of holidays does not mean declaration of public holidays in Malawi.
“The extended holidays are meant to enable civil servants to celebrate the Christmas and New Year’s festivities with their families and give them adequate time to rest.”
Banda further said while civil servants are on holiday, officers whose institutions provide essential services, such as hospitals, police, immigration, road safety services, fire brigade, airports and others in similar categories, are required to remain at work.
“These categories of officers shall be allowed to take their holidays of corresponding days in the New Year. Controlling officers for such institutions are, therefore, advised to put in place proper arrangements for staff providing essential services to proceed on holidays at an appropriate and convenient time,” she said.
Controlling officers have since been requested to process salaries on time to enable the Accountant General to facilitate payment of civil servants’ salaries before they proceed on the extended holidays.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government has maintained 12 public holidays for the year 2023.
Secretary for Local Government James Chiusiwa said in a statement released on Monday, the public holidays will be observed on New Year’s Day, John Chilembwe Day, Martyr’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid Ul Fitr, Labour Day, Kamuzu Day, Independence Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
“Please, be advised, further, that where any of these public holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the same shall be observed on the next working day,” he said.
Last year, civil servants also enjoyed an extended Christmas and New Year holiday.
