Businesses bemoan cost of holidays

Extended closures could leave visitors for the blockbuster Renaissance exhibition at the National Gallery wondering why cafes are not open.

The ACT Chamber of Commerce says legislation provides for substitution arrangements for when a nominated day, such as Christmas Day, falls on a weekend.

Under these standard arrangements, the Christmas Day and New Year's Day holidays will be deferred to the following Monday. The legislation also allows the Government to approve additional public holidays.

Chamber chief executive Chris Peters said the NSW Government declared additional holidays at the last moment last year and the ACT Government followed suit, and did so again this year.

''We think it is outrageous to have two additional public holidays. For the average nine-to-five office ... it is not an issue, but for those businesses who do open seven days a week, such as restaurants, hotels and the publishing industry, this is an additional cost to them.''

Penalty rates were typically double time and occasionally double time and a half.

''It's a double dip. People will also have the option of not working. Businesses can't instruct staff to work on a public holiday.''

Dr Peters said businesses which provided emergency call-outs for repairs and security firms providing around-the-clock-services would be hit with extra costs.

Australian Hotels Association ACT general manager Gwyn Rees said the Renaissance exhibition would be providing a major tourism drawcard for Canberra, therefore businesses should be encouraged to stay open, but could instead close to save costs after what had been a tough year for the hospitality industry.

He said many employers would close from the Friday before until at least the Wednesday after Christmas to avoid additional expenses.

Employees could find they had less work and money coming in if their employer closed.

An ACT Government spokeswoman said the decision reflected the realities of a seven-day workforce in some industries.

''By declaring a public holiday, workers if rostered to work on those days are able to have a choice about whether or not they work on those days, and if they do, are entitled to payment at the public holiday rate.''

In the case of Boxing Day this year, it was a public holiday in its own right, therefore the Tuesday had been declared, the spokeswoman said. The Government was reviewing these arrangements and it was likely that instead of the Minister having to declare the public holidays, it would automatically mean that when Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day fell on the weekend, the next weekday (if not already a holiday) would become the public holiday.

Approved public holidays in the ACT and NSW: