Weekends & Public Holidays
1. Does a work schedule that includes Sunday working automatically attract an extra payment or a payment of an allowance?
Technically there is a distinction between work on a Sunday and overtime on a Sunday. This is regulated by the WROs. Work on a Sunday may be part of the normal working hours, whereas overtime on a Sunday is over and above the working hours. Some WROs do not distinguish between the two and thus, any hours worked on a Sunday have to be paid at double pay. However there are others that clearly specify that overtime worked on a Sunday is paid at double time whilst it does not oblige employers to pay double time if the hours falling on a Sunday are part of the working week.
For those companies that do not fall under any one of the WRO’s but are regulated by Legal Notice 432 of 2007, Sunday work is paid at normal rate.
2. What is the applicable remuneration for working on public holidays?
Payment for public holidays is stipulated by the WRO’s. For those companies that do not fall under a WRO then the applicable rate is double time. If the public holiday falls on a day of rest between Monday and Friday then a day is added to the leave.