Legal blow to Liberation Day petition

Thursday 12th February 2009, 2:59PM GMT.

EMPLOYERS are not required by law to give workers a day off in lieu of Liberation Day if they do not work on a Saturday, according to legal advice given to the States.

However, the law does say that if Islanders are expected to work on 9 May, they must be given an extra day’s holiday in lieu.

The news will disappoint more than 2,500 people across the Channel Islands who have signed an online petition on Facebook calling for a day off in lieu on Liberation Day.

Phil Wells, of the employee relations section of the Human Resources department, explained that Island law stated that Saturday was classed as a day of the working week, and therefore those working on it were entitled to a day to compensate.

However, Sunday is not counted as a day of the working week, and, as a result, can never be deemed a bank holiday under existing laws.

• Picture: Celebrations in Liberation Square last year

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1
PJG

February 13, 2009 at 10:16 am

I am sure a lot of us can remember those dark ages when it was normal to work a 6 day week.
This is 2009 and the laws should be interpretated to reflect such, shame on you Phil Wells

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