2.5 Declaration of non-trading Public Holidays
This Ninth National Congress notes:

1. Since 1994 days to commemorate our struggles and victories, as well as election days, are treated by capital as ordinary holidays, on which they continue to trade. Workers may be dismissed or abused if they refuse to work on these days.
2. Changes to shift patterns, which include continuous shifts or continental shift work that consider public holidays as part as normal hours of work. For a worker to benefit from the public holidays first they have to complete the hours required per week and they forfeit public holiday pay.

Therefore this Ninth National Congress resolves:

1. To campaign for an amendment of the Public Holidays Act to ban trading on election days and on the following public holidays, where workers will not be forced to work on public holidays.

a. March 21 (Sharpeville Day).
b. April 27 (Freedom Day).
c. June 16
d. May Day
e. August 9 (South African Women’s Day)
f. December 16 (Heroes’ Day).

2. CEC to develop exemptions procedure if required