November 7, 2007
REMEMBRANCE DAY RESTRICTIONS
– – –2007 Remembrance Day Falls on a Sunday, Restaurants and Hotel Can Open All Day
This year, Nov. 11 falls on a Sunday. The Remembrance Day Act requires retail businesses to close between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., as Manitobans commemorate Canadian contributions and sacrifices in wars and international conflicts. On most Sundays, retail businesses in communities with bylaws can be open from noon until 6 p.m. This year, business can be open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday,
Nov. 11.
Nov. 11.
Provincial Remembrance Day legislation applies to retail businesses that sell or offer to sell goods and services; tradespeople or professional services; rental companies; and businesses charging admission to performances such as movies, concerts, theatre, exhibits and sports events.
However, restaurants and hotels are allowed to be open all day on Remembrance Day. Restaurants include street vendors, kiosks, outdoor restaurants, as well as more traditional indoor restaurants. Generally speaking, any operation whose primary business is to prepare and sell food would be considered a restaurant.
The prohibition of work on Remembrance Day does not apply to workers such as:
· police officers, firefighters and security officers;
· hospital, domestic, child-care and home-care employees;
· employees required to supply heating, gas, lighting, electrical or water services, or to provide emergency repairs for these services;
· hotels, restaurants and continuous operation businesses (excluding retail) employees;
· employees providing transportation services for goods or passengers by railway, aircraft or motor vehicle;
· employees in care of perishable products or live animals, or in the farming industry;
· employees of registered brokers who conduct business for clients on stock exchanges outside Manitoba;
· commemorative or religious service providers; and
· employees of newspapers, telecommunication carriers, television or radio stations, and cable television companies.
Employees working on Remembrance Day are entitled to 1½ times the regular rate of pay for all hours worked, but not less than half the normal working hours of a regular working day. Employees may also be eligible to receive regular pay in addition to the wages earned for working on Remembrance Day. Employees in retail establishments have the right of refusal for work on Remembrance Day as they do on Sundays.
For further information, call the Employment Standards Branch at 945-3352 in Winnipeg or (toll-free) at 1-800-821-4307 outside Winnipeg. Information is also available on the Internet at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards.
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