YOUR SAY: Should Christmas Eve be a public holiday?
THE Queensland Government wants to make Christmas Eve a public holiday to compensate workers spending time away for their families. What do you think?
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TOOWOOMBA residents working past 6pm on Christmas Eve will get a pay rise if the Queensland Government follows through with its plan to make the day a partial public holiday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the move ensured workers got a fair go and fair pay on one of the festive season's most important of nights.
"It would ensure workers have the right to have Christmas Eve off as a public holiday, just as they do for Christmas Day," she said.
"The night before Christmas is as important to families as the day itself.
"Many Queenslanders though, do have to work Christmas Eve and the change would ensure proper compensation for them."
Under the plan the average hospitality industry would be $146 better off for the night, according to the Hospitality Industry General Award.
The government opened the debate to public consultation with workers and business leaders given 28 days to make a submission.
If approved the change would bring Queensland in line with South Australia and the Northern Territory, which already offer penalty rates on Christmas Eve.
The change is only likely to affect Toowoomba hospitality workers, and not those in retail, with the city's major shopping centre, Grand Central, closing at 6pm on Christmas Eve 2018.
Click here for more details.
Interested parties can have their say by making written submissions to:
Email: publichol@oir.qld.gov.au
Post: Christmas Eve Part-Day Public Holiday Consultation
Office of Industrial Relations
GPO Box 69
Brisbane QLD 4001
Written submissions must be received by 4pm Monday, September 2, 2019.
Originally published as YOUR SAY: Should Christmas Eve be a public holiday?
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