The Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce is not recommending transfer of the January 2 optional Merchants’ break to Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.
This release is in response to several inquiries being made regarding Monday, Jan. 3 as a dies non. Notwithstanding this position taken, the Chamber recognizes that the decision to open or close on Monday is for the individual enterprise to take as the break is not a public holiday in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
“Merchants’ Holiday in general and the fact that it falls on Sunday this time around may just be the opportune time for social partners to look at the totality of non-productive breaks in Dominica,” says Achille Chris Joseph, CEO of the DAIC.
“Several laws already provide for annualized non-productive breaks in Dominica as follows:
Every Sunday – 52 days
Other Public Holidays – 12 days
Minimum Vacation – 12 days
Maternity Leave – 72 days
Certified Sick Leave – 36 days
Industrial Injury – 156 days
Compassionate Leave – 2 days
“Other leaves provided for in industrial agreements include: jury services, sporting activities, paternal leave, union leave, study leave, family emergencies and uncertified sick leave.
“How can we speak of productivity, competitiveness and enterprise development in an environment of such negative drivers? In my humble and personal view, we cannot comfortably pursue wealth creation in this environment,” the CEO continued.
Merchants who choose to trade on Monday would not wrong any law if they do trade.
If the day is not a holiday what is all that hoopla about? If the people of Dominica wishes Jan 2 to be a holiday, simply go after your Parliamentarians. It’s that simple! Why are so many people taking issues with the DAIC? What is it they did or said that was wrong? Have you ever wondered where does the money come from to pay you when there is a public holiday? Let’s suppose for a moment that you run a security firm and Monday is a holiday. The businesses you provide security for are all closed so you do not make money for that day, yet you have to pay your security officers because it is a holiday. Yet, when the security firm increases its fees by a dollar or two, we all bawl.
My country men has begun to think. Good decision DAIC. I was really wondering where were you all with all this holiday, which makes us more unproductive than anything else. If we do have business minded people, we will have no problems with the decision. A country like ours have too many holidays. People who complain are just LAZY. One reason why we cannot move. This is a developing country, let us rally around that positive decision.
Mr ceo u included sports activities in your reasons for workers getting time off but at Astaphan it does not happen that way
i’m not a merchant so choo poul
what is the final descision. do i work on monday or not?
check yr HR department nuh…stupes
if Christmas was on Saturday boxing day falls on Sunday the world celebrated it on Monday so did Dominicans why and where on
earth DAIC get the authority to say Monday not a holiday, the
only thing that we Dominicans can do let the workers go to work but we the
costumers stay off their business places it a holiday they must pay their workers
for just seating around.
fool Merchants’ holiday is NOT a public holiday; Boxing day is a public holiday so it can be celebrated on the day other than the one it falls on.
yes baboon it’s not a public holiday but don’t you think it’s our right to have the day off
after those long and tiring hours of work fool.
Hey! Owl! It’s called Merchants’ Holiday. Are you a Merchant?
SEEMS LIKE YOU WANT SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TO SEE YOU SO YOU RAISING YOUR VOICE….THERE IS AN EASIER WAY TO GET A MINISTRY BUT IF I TELL YOU IN DNO MY COMMENT WOUNT BE PUBLISHED
……GO DO SOME WORK SONNY BOY BEFORE SOMEBODY LET OFF SOME OF YOUR SECRETS….GO BE PRODUCTIVE!!
I read these comments and can only shake my head. its like we are comfortable with the way the economy is and the way that the level of income is in the country! This article has a lot of sense to it. The more developed countries has fewer holidays, longer business hours and they even open on Sundays as well. I mean with the small population we have, there may be a few set backs. But,in order to become successful, these are some of the measures that has to be taken!
I have interrupted!
well i grew up hearing my grand parents and elderly saying
we born and meet work on earth we’ll die and live work on earth
yes the country have to develop but develop with raise of salaries
not on bird feed.i don’t mind working longer hours but for what at the end of the hours
i cannot buy a shirt to put on my back,
True!
we are the least developed in the caribbean and we have the lesat holidays….st lucia have so much they even have copos christy….all u dominicans too so give those people there holiday…wat for daic to comenet on they not comenting
All I know is that Astaphans not closing on Monday.
all are them so wish it neva had a holiday
Allu always want a holiday, and then wonder why the economy is as it is.
AND YOUR POINT IS? EMPLOYEES AINT GETTING ANY PROFIT
My point is there are too many unnecessary holidays in Dominica. If you’re an employee working for a specific salary, what does profit have to do with anything?
Sad to note that our propensity for wanting to get paid for doing no work is still much alive. And then we berate the Chinese for their success!? The two are surely not unconnected.However, it does not help for this call coming from an organisation that likes sitting on the fence and one of who’s board members is alleged to have disbursed bribes in return for govt. contracts financed with the people’s money.
Its amazing. Most of us commenting here are the same ones who go to work at KFC and McDonalds and Walmart on CHRISTMAS DAY AND NEW YEARS DAY when we “MOVE” to greener pastures in America.
In the middle of snow storms we live our homes, commute via bus and trains to get to work for minimum wage – we do not complain.
Yet in DA, before it rains, we call in and say we cannot come to work.
We not easy eh – yes sah.
Well I will be at work on Monday at regular pay.
You must be a public servant or bank worker…so if u at work on Monday at regular pay, WHOSE BUSINESS??!!
amen amazingface…if wishes were horses some of us would not be talking.
I am in full agreement with the position of the DAIC.
This is not a legally binding holiday. and so employers cannot be forced to pay double time if they open.
Dominica is losing productivity and development at every turn.
I say all of you who are in agreement with this holiday just plain don’t understand how BUSINESS works; in fact, y’all are just plain and simple LAZY.
go to work if you want or stay out of the news.. one or the other! actually do both.. PLEASE.
What for you to open your mouth and talk about you remaining silent… It was sick leave now is merchant holiday next thing is sunday should not be classed as double day.
for dominica to fix, blood must run in the streets
AYE my former class/schoolmate i see u getting some flak but anybody who went 2 school know u stand frr what is right just do your job without fear or favour i no u as a fearless person in class in football happy new 2 u and your family i wash u all the best for the new year your old classmate
But you can go to work on Monday…nobody not stopping you.
do u want adog show on monday instead.smame joseph when u had 2 talk u were mumu.shame on u
is not yr fault Achills, you not a merchant…………so what u know bout merchant holidays eh?
Next level. Enjoy it!!!
all you abusing those words now wi..enough already nuh…next level dis, next level dat…STFU!!!
You mean after all-you have people working all those looooong hours leading up to Christmas and even on our Sundays, all-you want to keep people from taking a break -a day off..? that, all-you want to take away??? Boy look some unfair, selfish, inconsiderate set of people we work for -DAIC – Whitchurch, Astaphans, O. D. Brisbaine, Nassief, etc. All that on those ‘pig people’ minds is: money, money, money and more money! People can drop dead they don’t care. Weh!
SIR YOUR BEING VERY UNPRODUCTIVE TRYING TO GET SOME FREE PUBLICITY ON DNO…AND IM SURE UR DOING SO ON WORKING HOURS…..
GO AND GET SOME HARD WORK TO DO…ITS CLEAR YOU TRYING TO GET NOTICED….OK WE SEE YOU….GO BACK IN YOUR HOLE NOW!!
is DAIC afraid that the chinese will open any way, hence they speak now
If Christmas Day and Boxing Day falls on the weekend, then Monday is classed as a holiday.
Thats how is works in other countries, as Saturday and Sunday are not classed as holidays.
You mean in “some” countries, not other countries. Do some research.
Some counties have there weekends on Friday and Saturday, but they still have 2 days as weekend.
This type of BULL manure should never make the news,
What does the DAIC do?
its an unofficial holiday true, but for some of us who work day in and day out its a way of saying
employees we love u n appreciate you.
Imagine what would happen if there were no holidays ,
would our employers take the heartless opportunity
to milk us dry like a dehydrated bone?
I believe this blok is like a mose boy. he is like a slave they gave him stuff to read to the media not knowing nor understands de contents of it. mr is a joker
no one seemed to understand de man point. you all minds are so shallow in Dominica. What make sunday a rest day. we say it is a catholic nation so it is the sabbath but we want double day. wat day is saturday really…
Man take a hike!!!!! Who asked for your input???!!! When your organization has to speak out you silent like lambs, all of a sudden you have an opinion???!!! Well keep it to your miserable self! If you want to go to work on Monday who stopping you???
ok let me understand this clearly… if the merchants chooses to trade then he may trade on this day. so does that mean the if the employee chooses not to come to work then he may also do so, without bein pinalised
very good point!
This CEO needs to go……… Are we back in massa times. He is acting like a real …. He actually itemized Sunday’s asa non-productive break? Even maternity leave. Where mister come out nah. Other members I am hoping this is not your opinion too. Lord help us
man stfu and respect our holy-days and our holidays!
We are a Chrisitian God fearing nation … your face mark money ….
God bless you
Can’t believe he’s actually counting Sundays as a “non-productive” break! Left to these people we would be slaving away sevens days a week on minimum wage.
ASK SKERRIT TO ADDRESS THE WAGE ISSUE…IT WAS AN ELECTION PROMISE….LET THE MAN TALK.
SIR
Yes we must speak
From the top of Portsmouth to the very tip of Chasacou!
We must speak………….
Until every hamlet and village join in the refrain
God save Our Beloved Dominica—our Gem beyond compare…YES WE MUST SPEAK
No more can we sit in the prison of intimidation and fear
We must speak and raise our voices in condemnation of wrong,
We must Speak wherever and whenever it occurs.
Let us rally to make a better country, the one of our fondest hopes!
We must speak — to build a better and more law abiding Dominica
Let us therefore renew ourselves.
Let us gather the committed and the fearless to this cause.
Borne on the wings of faith from our ancestors who fought for freedom over slavery,
LET US SPEAK of Love for country–learned at our Dominican mothers breast
We must speak
We must speak for the future generations of Dominican
We who are determined to end corrupt practices in government affairs
and the preservation of democracy and good governance in Dominica—MUST SPEAK.
We must speak and demand that inner truth supersedes unquestioning loyalty to government.
With righteous indignation—WE MUST SPEAK–
…..-FOR A TIME COMES WHEN SILENCE IS BETRAYAL…
THAT TIME HAS COME FOR US IN DOMINICA!!!!!!!! WE MUST SPEAK!
what was your point? how is your contribution relevant to the issue being discussed in the article? I sure did not get what you were trying to say in sooo many words
some people just having bad dreams and running out of healthy speeches lol!
lol!
A lot of people just want to be in the news.’stupes’
Lol!! Nice way to put it.
is more than that… ask you self who that on the DAIC n you’ll know why. Let the holiday remain, open if allu want and pay employees double time. shesh..!!
haha boy u guys will kill me
thats the most humerous set of comments i ever read on DNO
but u guys have a point with this “you must speak” chap.
has no place here