New Year’s Day in Belize
New Year’s Day falls on January 1 and is listed in Belize’s law as a public holiday. The Government also includes it among the country’s public and bank holidays, giving the date legal significance beyond its place at the start of the calendar year.[1][2]
A fixed date in Belize’s holiday calendar
Belize’s Holidays Act names the first day of January in its First Schedule of public holidays. The government’s annual holiday notice lists New Year’s Day as a public and bank holiday.[1][2]
The holiday is fixed to January 1. The annual notice lists New Year’s Day on that date. Other holidays can have an “in lieu” date, so check the relevant annual notice when planning around a particular year.[1][2]
How people mark the day
The Holidays Act lists January 1 as a public holiday, and the government’s annual notice also designates it a bank holiday.[1][2]
In Belize, January 1 is recognized in law as a public holiday and appears on the government’s public and bank holiday notice.[1][2]
Work and practical planning
The Labour Act sets out pay protections for public holidays. Monthly or weekly paid workers must not have wages deducted for time not worked on a public holiday. Hourly, daily, piecework, or task-based workers may qualify for a normal day’s pay when the holiday falls on a scheduled workday and they meet the Act’s attendance conditions. If a worker performs work on a scheduled public holiday, the Act generally sets a rate of one and a half times ordinary pay; New Year’s Day is not among the three holidays named for double pay.[3]
Government offices close for public holidays, and banks are included in the official designation.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
Is New Year’s Day a public holiday in Belize?
When is New Year’s Day observed?
Are banks and shops open?
What happens if an employee works that day?
For work on a scheduled public holiday, the Labour Act generally requires pay at one and a half times the worker’s ordinary rate. Eligibility and exceptions depend on the Act’s provisions and the worker’s circumstances.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Belize:
- Holidays Act, Chapter 289, Revised Edition 2011- Judiciary of Belize
- Public and Bank Holidays 2026- Government of Belize Press Office
- Labour Act, Chapter 297, Revised Edition 2020- Government of Belize