Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Mick Gentleman has today reminded Canberra businesses and workers that Easter Sunday is now an official public holiday in the ACT, alongside existing public holidays on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. “The new Easter Sunday public holiday is a win for hardworking Canberrans who are required to work over the long weekend – including healthcare, retail and hospitality industry workers,” Minister Gentleman commented “The majority of Canberrans will spend the Easter long weekend with family and loved ones, and I hope those not working have a wonderful Easter break and it is only fair that workers who give up this important time on Easter Sunday are appropriately compensated.”
Minister Gentleman explained that the ACT Legislative Assembly passed the historic legislation to make Easter Sunday an official public holiday in the ACT on 17 November 2015. As a declared public holiday, Easter Sunday, will enable workers to claim holiday penalty rates and other entitlements under the applicable enterprise agreements.
“A commitment to work/life balance is crucial to protect the precious time we have to spend with family and friends. This move appropriately recognises the costs of having to work outside the traditional Monday to Friday working week,” Minister Gentleman commented.