Ouagadougou: The government of Burkina Faso, during a recent Council of Ministers session, projected that public holidays could lead to a significant revenue loss exceeding 67 billion FCFA by the year 2025. The session, chaired by President Ibrahim Traor©, highlighted the economic impact of public holidays on the country's budget.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Council of Ministers adopted a bill aimed at establishing paid holidays and designated days for remembrance and reflection. The Minister of Civil Service, Labour and Social Protection, Mathias Traor©, revealed that public agents are required to work 214 days annually, accounting for only 58.63% of the year's 365 days. This reduction is due to legal holidays coinciding with Sundays and weekends.
A study conducted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance underscores the potential financial impact, indicating that the lost working time could cost the state budget over 67.5 billion FCFA by 2025. Minister Mathias Traor© emphasized that the bill's adoption is intended to "adjust the time spent working in public and private administrations," thereby supporting reforms aligned with the Head of State's vision.