Samoa will have three days of public holidays for Easter.

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) in a public notice signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling.

The public holidays are Friday April 19, Saturday 20 and Monday 22 April.

“In accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act 2008, the following dates are to be treated as Public Holidays during Easter Holiday: Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Monday 22 of April will be the approved days for public holidays.

“Shops selling goods may open during public holidays in accordance with the provisions of the Public Holidays Act 2008.

“However, employers are reminded to comply with section 39 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 in relation to the rate of wages to be paid to employees who work on Public Holidays,” stated the public notice.

According to Section 39 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, “an employee may be paid his or her ordinary rate of wages on a public holiday which falls during the time that he or she is normally required to provide his or her services to the employer.

“An employee may be paid his or her ordinary rate of wages on a public holiday which falls during the time that he or she is normally required to provide his or her services to the employer.

“An employee who works upon the request of his or her employer on a public holiday is entitled to double the ordinary rate of wages for such day’s work."

“An employee who travels on official business overseas during a public holiday: is entitled to elect a day for the public holiday to be taken on his or her return to Samoa; and must consult his or her employer before taking his or her holiday under paragraph.”