The Public and Bank Holidays Act 1972, which specifies public holidays for WA, was amended by the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (IRLA Act) to make Easter Sunday a public holiday. The Easter Sunday provisions in the IRLA Act commenced on 12 February 2022.

For employers and employees in the state industrial relations system, the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 has been amended to recognise Easter Sunday as a public holiday. This ensures that full time and part time employees who are not required to work on Easter Sunday, solely because that day is a public holiday, are entitled to their usual pay.

Implementation arrangements have also been introduced for state system employees covered by WA awards and industrial agreements. WA award employees who are required to work on Easter Sunday will be entitled to receive any applicable public holiday penalty rates on this day, rather than normal Sunday pay rates. The implementation arrangements also ensure that the Easter Sunday public holiday is to be observed on Easter Sunday itself, rather than on some alternative day.

For employers and employees in the national industrial relations system, the Fair Work Act 2009 and national modern awards will automatically recognise the new Easter Sunday public holiday.

Visit the Easter Sunday public holiday page for more information.