All South Australian public sector workers, including nurses, doctors and police, will be paid penalty rates for working Christmas Day.
While Christmas is not officially a public holiday in SA this year, Treasurer Rob Lucas says the decision recognises the "hard work and additional sacrifice" of those public sector staff who are rostered on.
But Mr Lucas has once again dismissed suggestions the penalty rate provisions should be extended to the private sector.
"The last thing small businesses need, particularly those in tourism and hospitality, after more than 18 months of COVID, is to be hit with having to pay 250 per cent penalty rates for four-and-a-half days in a row over Christmas," he said on Friday.
"The reality is, that this added cost burden would have meant some businesses, including restaurants and cafes, would have simply chosen not to open at all, robbing young workers of shifts."
The Labor opposition and the union movement have campaigned hard to have Christmas Day declared a public holiday.
A bill to introduce the change was defeated in the SA parliament with SA Unions State Secretary Dale Beasley branding it "sheer mean spirited" at the time.
"This government has shown working South Australians their DNA . They're hardwired to cut workers' pay at every chance they get. Even on Christmas," Mr Beasley said.
Under the government's decision, some public sector workers, such as nurses, will get penalties of up to 250 per cent.
Others could get a 150 per cent or 200 per cent loading.
"It's been an enormously challenging year for many South Australians, especially for those public sector workers in front-line essential service roles," Mr Lucas said.
"The government is pleased, through the taxpayer, to pay additional penalty rates on this particular day."
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