Decision remains with retailers
Minister for Trade and Commerce Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that despite Saturday being declared as a public holiday, the decision to open doors will be up to the retailers.
Sayed-Khaiyum made the clarification this afternoon following confusion as to whether this would mean shops would remain closed on Saturday.
Sayed-Khaiyum said that the Government encourages all municipal administrators to be flexible in allowing retail outlets and businesses to open during public holidays for extended trading hours.
Meanwhile, Suva City Councils Special Administrator, Chandu Umaria said any business that wishes to operate during the public holidays will have to apply for a special permit.
Umaria said that since the confusion over December 25th being a normal trading day has been clarified by the government and Saturday 25th has now been declared a public holiday including Monday and Tuesday, business houses will have to seek special permit if they wish to operate during these days.
He said the usual regulation will come into place concerning public holidays and weekend trading especially Sunday trading.
Suva City Council Special Administrator Chandu Umaria said any business that wishes to operate during the public holidays will have to apply for a special permit.
Umaria said that since the confusion over December 25th being a normal trading day has been clarified by the government and Saturday 25th has now been declared a public holiday including Monday and Tuesday, business houses will have to seek a special permit if they wish to operate during these days.
He said the usual regulation will come into place concerning public holidays and weekend trading especially Sunday trading.
Umaria’s comment comes after Government 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.
Story by: Sneh Chaudhry
Feature
Decision lies with retailers
