The government’s decision to declare Saturday, 17 January, a public holiday in honour of the late former President George Vassiliou will have limited practical impact on everyday activity, as the private sector will continue operating normall.
Supermarkets will remain open on Saturday, according to the Executive Secretary of the Pancyprian Supermarkets Association, Andreas Hatzihadamou, who spoke to the Cyprus News Agency.
Although the Council of Ministers designated the day as a public holiday due to Vassiliou’s funeral, Hatzihadamou clarified that “the private sector will operate as normal, including supermarkets”.
“There is no differentiation,” he said, adding that employees will work as they normally do on Saturdays. The legislation governing Saturday and Sunday employment will be applied in full.
In practice, the decision primarily concerns the public sector, which does not operate on Saturdays, while businesses and retail activity will continue uninterrupted across the private sector.