Govt declares Saturday 25th Dec as public holiday

Government has declared this Saturday as a public holiday, under the provisions of the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007.

The decision to declare Saturday a Public holiday comes after there was a lot of confusion as to whether employees had to report to work.

In the Gazette, Saturday the 25th of December will be a public holiday, in addition to the public holidays already declared for Monday 27th December 2010 and Tuesday 28th December 2010.

This would mean that under the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007, all employers will now be required to pay the applicable remuneration for a public holiday.

The Gazette goes on to say that all employers are required to take note of this declaration and to abide by the provisions of the law.
 
The declaration of Saturday as a public holiday will now enable all those who wish to attend church on the actual Christmas day to do so, without being penalized by their employers.

The gazette follows concerns raised by the Indian Division of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma that due to the Christmas Day public holiday being held on Monday, some employers would take advantage to insist that workers including those who are Christian, work on Saturday December 25.

Methodist Church Indian Division Superintendent Reverend William Lucas revealed that he wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office requesting him to intervene.

He alleged that some employers had given their workers an ultimatum to either show up to work or they will not be paid for the public holidays.
 
Meanwhile, Fiji Retailers Association President Himmat Lodhia said that retailers may have to extend their shopping hours on Christmas Eve to make up for Saturday.