After Labour Day marches yesterday, unions called on the government to make the day a national holiday.
Then head of the Syna Union, Johann Tscherrig, says the holiday would be a well-deserved token of recognition for employees.
But the youth branch of the Liberal-Radical Party says May 1st demonstrations cause ‘chaos and material damage’ and said even the cantons that do have the day off should abolish the holiday.
There are 8 cantons where May 1st is a day-off.
But it’s unlikely parliament would approve it. There’s already been a motion for a holiday on September 12th to mark the start of modern Switzerland in 1848. That got voted down by the Council of States.
It’s estimated a public holiday costs the economy CHF 600m.