Cabinet Reaffirms Public Holiday Work Rules for Essential Workers

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has reaffirmed that employees assigned to essential services are required to report to work on public holidays, warning that disruptions to critical operations cannot be tolerated.

During Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Cabinet reviewed concerns relating to workers who refuse to report for duty on public holidays despite being rostered to work.

Merchant said Cabinet reiterated that the country’s Labour Code clearly outlines the obligations of employees engaged in essential services.

“Cabinet reiterated that under the Labour Code, employees who are rostered or scheduled to work on public holidays are required to report for duty and carry out their assigned responsibilities,” he said.

The issue was discussed against the backdrop of what Cabinet described as growing instances of workers refusing to work during public holidays.

Government officials stressed that essential services are critical to maintaining the functioning of the country and ensuring uninterrupted service to the public.

“The government noted that adherence to established work schedules and operational requirements is necessary to maintain efficiency, continuity and public confidence in essential national services,” Merchant added.

While Cabinet did not specify which sectors were affected, essential services in Antigua and Barbuda typically include areas such as healthcare, utilities, sanitation, emergency response and security services.

The discussion formed part of a broader Cabinet review of labour and public sector operations during Wednesday’s meeting.