THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security says that Boxing Day 2015 will be observed on Saturday, December 26, and not Monday, December 28 as some people are assuming.

Director of Legal Services in the ministry, Camille Bennett-Campbell, says according to the provisions of the Holidays (Public General) Act of 1895 — by which all public holidays are governed if a public holiday falls on a Saturday — that is the day it will be observed.

“That Act says that when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, then the 26th will be Christmas Day and the following day will be Boxing Day. It makes no provision where Boxing Day falls on a Saturday for it to be celebrated on any other day,” she explained.

Bennett-Campbell added, however, that the law does make provision for Labour Day. Where it falls on a Saturday, then it will be commemorated on the following Monday.

In the meantime, the director said workers should pay special attention to their working arrangements when asked to engage in labour during public holidays.

“If you are a minimum wage earner and you are asked to work on a public holiday, you will be entitled to double-time rate. For other workers it depends on what is in your collective labour agreement if you are unionised or what is in your employment contract,” she said.