_St. John’s, Antigua – 3 June 2025 –_ All workers within the hotel industry can expect to receive their full public holiday pay entitlements now that the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) has conceded to the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union’s (ABWU) position on this matter.

In a formal correspondence to the Union, the ABHTA confirmed its acceptance by outlining the guidelines it will adopt going forward regarding public holiday pay:

• _If an employee does not work on a public holiday, he shall suffer no loss of pay, that is,he shall be paid the basic wage he would have received for work performed on that day had it not been a public holiday, provided he has worked his scheduled work day immediately before and his scheduled work day immediately after the said public holiday._
• _When a public holiday is being observed on an employee’s scheduled day off and such day is not worked by the employee, the employee shall receive either a regular day’s pay or be given another day off in lieu of the public holiday (subject to approval by the Employer), provided the employee has worked his scheduled work day immediately before and his scheduled work day immediately after the said public holiday._

In May, the ABWU issued a strongly worded letter to the ABHTA, reminding the Association and its members of the Industrial Court ruling, Ref. No. 5 of 1988 _(Sundry Workers v. Antigua Catering Services)_ , which clearly established the rights of employees regarding holiday pay entitlements.

The ABWU reiterates that it will vigorously challenge any hotel or other employer found in breach of these obligations, and urges members to report any violation of the public holiday pay requirement to a representative of the ABWU