State Restores Sunday Pay for Officers After Previous Decision Found Legally Invalid

The Government has officially approved the reinstatement of the Sunday Allowance for public officers working on shift or rotation patterns, fixing the rate at the equivalent of one full day’s pay.

The decision, ratified during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, 30 January 2026, follows recommendations from a High-Powered Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service.

Under the new terms, eligible officers will receive this revised allocation in addition to their standard remuneration for Sunday shifts.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

The Cabinet move comes after a review of the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) guidelines and the Workers’ Rights Act. According to the PRB, Sundays have traditionally been classified as normal working days for staff in shift-based roles.

This stance is supported by Sections 30(1) and 30(2) of the Workers’ Rights Act, which maintain a clear legal distinction between Sundays and public holidays regarding pay structures.

Compensation Adjustments

The High-Powered Committee noted that the PRB already factors Sunday requirements into its salary determinations. Key findings include:

• Higher Salary Scales: Shift workers are historically granted higher salary scales than those on standard hours to compensate for Sunday duties, a policy reflected in the 2026 PRB Report.
• Night Duty: Shift workers performing night services remain eligible for the additional Night Duty Allowance.

Previous Administration’s Policy Overturned

A significant factor in this revision was the lack of legal standing for previous payment structures.

The Cabinet noted that a 2024 decision by the former Government—which allowed shift workers to receive a normal day’s pay plus two additional days’ salary—had “no legal basis” for implementation.

The restoration of the allowance at the one-day rate aims to align civil service compensation with current statutory requirements and PRB recommendations.

Source: Defi Media