Labour Day in Grenada
Grenada marks Labour Day on May 1 as a public holiday. The day also has a local union dimension: the Grenada Trades’ Union Council lists organizing May Day among its main public activities.[1][3]
Date and public-holiday status
The Cabinet Office lists Labour Day among Grenada’s public holidays and places it on May 1. Under the Bank Holidays Act schedule, when a bank holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed. That Sunday rule does not create a substitute day when May 1 falls on another day of the week.[1]
The Employment Act sets out pay rules for work on a public holiday: agreed overtime worked on a public holiday must be paid at no less than twice the hourly wage, and a daily-paid worker who works on the working day before and after a public holiday must be paid for the holiday.[2]
Workers and unions in Grenada
The Grenada Trades’ Union Council (GTUC) was established in Gouyave, St. John, in 1955. It describes itself as an umbrella body representing Grenada’s unions and says its work includes representing and lobbying for both unionized and non-unionized workers.[3]
The GTUC names May Day, held on May 1, as one of its main public activities. This gives the holiday a specific connection to organized labour in Grenada, alongside its place in the national public-holiday calendar.[1][3]
Labour rights in historical context
Grenada’s Department of Labour traces its establishment to recommendations in the 1938 Moyne Commission Report, which examined social and economic conditions facing workers in the colonies. The report said Grenadian workers were unprotected and recommended, among other measures, legal protection for trade unions, factory inspections and workmen’s compensation.[4]
This official history provides context for why worker representation and labour protections matter in Grenada. Grenada’s Labour Day has no single documented origin or starting event.[3][4]
What to expect on the day
The GTUC identifies May Day organising as a public activity, but there is no fixed annual programme, particular ceremony or food tradition, or documented difference between Grenada and Carriacou. Check Council or local announcements for event details.[3]
The official listings confirm Labour Day’s date and public-holiday status, but do not provide a general Labour Day schedule for banks, shops or transport. Check directly with individual services if you need to travel or visit a business.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When is Labour Day in Grenada?
Labour Day is listed on May 1 in Grenada’s Cabinet Office public-holiday calendar. The Act’s schedule provides for the following Monday to be observed when a bank holiday falls on Sunday.[1]
Is Labour Day a public holiday?
Yes. The Government of Grenada includes Labour Day among the country’s public holidays.[1]
Does everyone automatically get the day off?
Are banks, shops and public transport open?
Check opening hours and transport schedules with the bank, shop or transport provider you plan to use.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Labour Day in Grenada:
- Grenada’s Public Holidays - 2025- Government of Grenada, Cabinet Office
- Employment Act, Chapter 89, Act No. 14 of 1999- Ministry of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs, Grenada
- Grenada Trades’ Union Council- Department of Labour, Grenada
- About Us- Department of Labour, Grenada