New Year’s Day in Lesotho
New Year’s Day is a public holiday throughout Lesotho on 1 January. The country’s holiday and labour laws set out its status and workers’ entitlements, while the holiday law allows additional public holidays to be declared by notice.[1][2]
A public holiday under Lesotho law
Lesotho’s Public Holidays Act lists New Year’s Day as 1 January and makes the scheduled days public holidays throughout the country. The Act also allows the King, acting on the advice of the Minister of Home Affairs, to appoint an additional public holiday by notice in the Gazette.[1]
The Act treats a scheduled public holiday as a non-business day for the purposes of laws concerning bills of exchange and promissory notes. That provision is specific: the Act does not set opening hours for banks, shops or transport, or describe a general shutdown of all services.[1]
The Act’s schedule names 1 January but does not state an automatic substitute day when it falls on a weekend. It does provide a way to appoint an additional holiday by Gazette notice, so a replacement day should not be assumed unless separately declared.[1]
Time off and work on the holiday
The Labour Act 2024 says that when a public holiday falls on a day that would otherwise be a worker’s working day, the worker is entitled to that day off with pay. This makes the entitlement conditional on the person’s normal work schedule; the Act does not describe the day as a universal paid day off for every person.[2]
A worker who works on a public holiday is entitled either to double the normal wage rate for an ordinary working day, or, by agreement with the employer, the normal daily wage plus a paid ordinary working day off in lieu. These are the compensation options stated in the Act.[2]
Planning for 1 January
Because the legal designation does not establish business or transport schedules, residents and visitors should check directly with any office, bank, shop or transport provider they plan to use. The holiday law’s non-business-day rule is limited to bills of exchange and promissory notes; the cited law does not establish that every business or service must close.[1]
For workers, the practical question is whether 1 January would normally be a working day. If so, the Labour Act provides for paid time off; if work is required, it sets out the pay or time-off alternatives. For anyone relying on a particular service, opening arrangements need to be confirmed with that provider.[2]
Frequently asked questions
When is New Year’s Day in Lesotho?
It is observed on 1 January. That date is named in Lesotho’s Public Holidays Act.[1]
Are workers entitled to a paid day off?
A worker is entitled to a paid day off when the public holiday falls on a day that would otherwise be a working day for them.[2]
What if someone works on New Year’s Day?
The Labour Act provides for double the normal daily wage, or, by agreement with the employer, the normal wage plus a paid working day off in lieu.[2]
Are shops, banks and transport services open?
The cited holiday law does not prescribe their opening hours. Check with the specific business or service before travelling or making plans.[1]
Is there automatically a Monday substitute when 1 January falls on a weekend?
The Act lists 1 January and does not specify an automatic substitute day. It allows an additional public holiday to be appointed by Gazette notice.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Lesotho:
- Public Holidays Act 1995- Parliament of Lesotho; hosted by ILO NATLEX
- Labour Act 2024- Ministry of Public Service, Kingdom of Lesotho