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Public Holidays Act

Commencement: 30 July 1980

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988

CHAPTER 114

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

JR 19 of 980
Act 15 of 1984
Act 15 of 1985

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Public holidays

2. President may declare other public holidays

3. Public holidays failing on Sundays
4. No compulsory payments on public holidays

5. Compulsory closing of stores by order
6. Penalty for keeping open store
7. Exemptions
   

SCHEDULE

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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

To provide for public holidays.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1. The days stated in the Schedule shall be public holidays.

PRESIDENT MAY DECLARE OTHER PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

2. The President acting on the advice of the Prime Minister may from time to time declare other days as public holidays.
   

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FALLING ON SUNDAYS

3. When any of the days stated is a Sunday the following Monday shall be a public holiday and when Family Day falls upon a Monday the day following shall be a public holiday.
   

NO COMPULSORY PAYMENTS ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

4. No person shall be compelled to make any payment or do any act upon any public holiday which he would not be compellable to make or do upon a Sunday and the making of such payment and the doing of such act on the day following such public holiday shall be equivalent to payment of the money or performance of the act on such holiday.
   

COMPULSORY CLOSING OF STORES BY ORDER

5. The President may by Order from time to time direct that all stores, shops and other places of business throughout Vanuatu or in any one or more of such places as may be stated in the Order shall be and remain closed upon any public holiday.
   

PENALTY FOR KEEPING OPEN STORE

6. When an Order is made under section 5 it shall be unlawful for any person to keep open any store, shop or other place of business other than a hotel in any of the places named in such order or to sell or cause to be sold in any such store, shop or other place of business any goods or articles whatsoever. Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding VT5,000 and in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 month.
   

EXEMPTIONS

7. Section 6 shall not apply to -

(a) the sale of any drugs or medicines;

(b) the sale of bread, butter, fresh milk, fresh meat, fresh fish and ice not later than noon;

(c) the sale of refreshments in any places where refreshments are habitually sold for consumption on the premises.

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SCHEDULE

(Section 1)

New Year's Day
Custom Chief's Day (5 March)
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Labour Day (1 May)
Ascension Day
Independence Day
Assumption Day
National Unity Day (5 October)
Constitution Day (29 November)
Christmas Day Family Day

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