A DECISION to designate Liberation Day as Jersey’s official national day will not mean a day off for most Islanders in 2026 or 2027 as it falls on a weekend and there will be no substitute bank holiday, the Chief Minister has confirmed.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham said last week’s vote in the States Assembly to give 9 May formal national day status would not alter the status quo about “substitute” holidays.
In years where Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall at a weekend, the following Monday becomes a substitute holiday in Jersey, but this move does not apply to Liberation Day. If 9 May falls on a Saturday, it is a designated public holiday, albeit on a day when most schools and workplaces are closed, but Sundays are considered “general holidays”, meaning Liberation Day is not a public holiday if it falls on Sunday.
Deputy Farnham said ministers had discussed the issue prior to bringing the proposition, which was passed by 34 votes to seven last Friday.
“There are no plans to change this,” he confirmed. “Liberation Day has special status and it is always on 9 May – there can be no substitute for that.”
The States decision about having a national day, plus the designation of Beautiful Jersey as the Island’s official anthem, came a few weeks before the 80th anniversary of Liberation on Friday 9 May. In 2026 and 2027, Liberation Day will fall on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
In February 2010, politicians debated having a one-off extra public holiday on Monday 10 May, the day after the 65th anniversary of Liberation, but the proposition was defeated by 27 votes to 22.
Five years later, Deputy Sam Mézec proposed a public holiday for Friday 8 May 2015, but this was rejected by Members by 33 votes to nine.
An extra holiday was added to the calendar in 2020, with a unanimous vote in favour of making Friday 8 May a public holiday to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two in most parts of Europe.
While many employees and schoolchildren might be in favour of a day off and there have been claims of a boost for tourism, most businesses have traditionally been opposed. It was estimated in 2023 that it costs the government £1.38 million to pay public sector employees for one day, although this did not represent an additional cost.
Those employees in the private sector who are obliged to work on Sundays have no legal right for a premium rate of pay or additional time in lieu to cover working on Liberation Day when it is a Sunday.
James Turner, regional officer for Unite, said: “We would always argue for a premium rate to be paid as part of any collective bargaining agreements or time off as an option where the employer can accommodate this, however many workers in Jersey are simply left to the minimum statutory requirements – until there is a law change, many simply have to accept the current position.”
There appears to be limited appetite among politicians to change the law. One current States Member expressed concern that older Islanders would see the extra day as diluting the unique character of Liberation Day, adding: “It’s a bit of a hot potato, I’m not sure it would be something that would get a lot of support.”
Liberation Day
Jersey was liberated from the occupying German forces on the morning of Wednesday 9 May 1945
- Liberation Day will fall on Friday 9 May this year.
- In 2026 and 2027, Liberation Day will fall on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
- Jersey has a maximum of nine public holidays per year, other than where Liberation Day falls on a Sunday, when there are eight.
- Additional “one-off” public holidays have been added to the calendar in recent years, including for the 250th anniversary of the Corn Riots, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III and last year’s Royal Visit by the King and Queen.
- Liberation Day will fall on Friday 9 May this year, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Occupation of Jersey by German forces.
- In 2026 and 2027, Liberation Day will fall on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
- Jersey has a maximum of nine public holidays per year, other than where Liberation Day falls on a Sunday, when there are eight.
- Additional “one-off” public holidays have been added to the calendar in recent years, including for the 250th anniversary of the Corn Riots, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III and last year’s Royal Visit by the King and Queen.
