Public Holidays Act

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Holidays Act.

2. Public holidays The several days specified in the Schedule shall, in every year, be kept as public holidays by all public offices and all banks.

3. Alteration or addition of public holidays (1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette , amend the Schedule. (2) The Minister may, in any year, by order published in the Gazette , declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of such days, and either throughout Malawi or in any District, area or any part thereof, and thereupon any day so declared shall be a public holiday in all respects as if it were a day specified in the Schedule, either throughout Malawi or in the locality specified in such order; and where in any year, any day is so declared to be a public holiday in substitution for any of the days specified in the Schedule such latter day shall, in such year, cease to be a public holiday in Malawi or in the locality specified in the order.

4. Where public holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday Where, in any year, a day specified in the Schedule, other than the Saturday following Good Friday, falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the next succeeding day, not being itself a Sunday or public holiday shall in such year be a public holiday in all respects as if it were a day specified in the Schedule, and the day specified in the Schedule shall, in such year, cease to be a public holiday. [16 of 1983]

5. Right to open public offices and require attendance of Government employees Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, it shall be lawful for the head of any Government Department to open the offices and works thereof, and to call upon all or any persons employed in such Department to perform such of their duties on any public holiday as to such head of Department seems fit. Schedule New Year’s Day John Chilembwe Day (15th January) Martyrs’ Day (3rd March) Good Friday Saturday following Good Friday Easter Monday Labour Day (1st May) Kamuzu Day (14th May) Independence Day (6th July) Mothers’ Day (15th October) Eid al Fitri Christmas Day [G.N. 99/1986] [67/1994] [84/1994] [76/1997] [41/2007]