An amendment has been made to the Shops’ Closing Regulations to allow select stores to open for business on Good Friday (April 10), providing customers more time to shop in advance of Easter Sunday.
As a result of the amendment, stores that are not exempt under the Regulations, but are deemed by order of the Chief Medical Officer of Health as services essential to the life, health or personal safety of individuals and animals, will be provided the option to open for business on Good Friday. These stores are not required to open on Good Friday, but will have the option to do so if they wish.
The Department of Advanced Education, Skill and Labour is responsible for the Shops’ Closing Act and Regulations which set the observance of holidays and requires all businesses, other than those defined as exempt by regulation, to be closed on specified holidays. Under section 4 of the Act, Good Friday is listed as a public holiday.
Retail stores that provide services essential to the life, health or personal safety of individuals or animals include grocery stores and big box stores that sell dry goods, produce and other food items. Prior to an upcoming shops’ closing holiday, it is a common occurrence for these types of stores to have extremely high volumes of customers the day before the scheduled holiday. This option is intended to mitigate those high volumes. More information can be found in the backgrounder below.
The Provincial Government will continue to monitor, and where necessary, implement protocols required to contain the COVID-19 virus. For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.
For general inquiries related to government services, please call 1-833-771-0696 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday or email covid19info@gov.nl.ca any time.
-30-
Media contact
Tansy Mundon
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-0753, 693-1865
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Questions and Answers Related to an Amendment to Shops’ Closing Regulations
Are these businesses required to open?
No, these businesses are provided with the option to open, but it is not required.
Why make the change if there is no guarantee that businesses will do this?
This is an option for businesses to consider that may help with controlling volumes. It is providing these businesses with flexibility to effectively manage volumes during this time.
Will employees be mandated to work on this holiday if the store is open?
An employer shall not require an employee to work on a public holiday, however an employer and employee may agree that a public holiday will be a working day for the employee.
If the employee does work, is the employee entitled to double pay for those hours?
Yes, as per section 17 of the Labour Standards Act.
Are you worried that this will result in increased cost pressure to stores?
This is an option for stores. Business owners will be able to make a decision if it is in the best interest of their businesses to open on Good Friday.
Does this exemption apply to Easter Sunday as well?
No.
What impact will this decision have on unionized businesses who are now permitted to open under this regulation?
This will need to be determined by the union and the employer within the parameters of the terms and conditions that are contained in the collective agreement.