The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has said that it will not take a decision on Wal-Mart Stores Inc's plans to stop protests and rallies outside its stores until Thursday's Thanksgiving Holiday.

The NLRB's delay in taking a decision is set back for the world's largest retailer, which was looking to prevent workers and their supporters to protest outside stores during "Black Friday". Black Friday is day after Thanksgiving that is a generally the busiest shopping day of the year.

Wal-Mart has faced months of protests and rallies outside its stores, filed its own unfair labor practice complaint against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) asking the board to restrict what it described as attempts to disrupt its business. The company said that the protests outside its stores are backed by the UFCW

Meanwhile, an organization staging the protests called, OUR Walmart has also filed charges with the NLRB alleging that the retailers is illegally attempting to deter workers from participating in the strikes.

The NLRB said it is conducting investigations Wal-Mart's complaint. "The legal issues, including questions about what constitutes picketing and whether the activity was aimed at gaining recognition for the union, are complex," it said in a statement.