Civil service holiday bill approved, factoring prior public sector service

MPs and trade unions broadly welcomed government legislation that would count prior public sector service when calculating annual leave for civil servants. Currently, leave is staggered based on years of service; the amendment would include years served in other public sector posts, such as open-ended contracts, if the employee later becomes a civil servant. However, hourly-paid workers (about 600 people) are excluded, and unions raised concerns about coverage for those moving from local government or between semi-governmental organizations. A finance ministry official clarified that prior service in public-law organizations is included. The bill received broad support, with calls to include hourly-paid workers.