Introduction of a new public holiday

At a glance

• Legislation to include Christmas Eve as a public holiday is in its final stages. 
• The bill proposes to increase the number of 'trading Sundays' before Christmas Eve from two to three, with a restriction that employees can only work on two of these Sundays.
• These changes are pending the President's signature and will take effect on 1 February 2025.

Legislation to include Christmas Eve as a public holiday is in its final stages. Changes are also likely to be made at the same time, to the number of 'trading Sundays' (Sundays on which trading services can be provided) before Christmas Eve. According to the wording of the bill, the three Sundays before Christmas Eve (rather than the current two) will be 'trading Sundays'. This will also change the number of Sundays an employee may work in December, introducing a restriction that an employee may only work on two of the three 'trading Sundays' before Christmas Eve.

These changes have not yet been officially enacted and are awaiting the President's signature. According to the bill, the law will come into effect on 1 February 2025, meaning the changes will only apply to Christmas Eve and the Sundays preceding it in 2025.