Worldwide Public Holidays News and Updates

December 23, 2024

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• 
• Nigeria
• Nigeria
• Nigeria Announces 2024-2025 Year-End Public Holidays
  The Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Abuja)
  
  The Permanent Secretary to the Nigerian Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, has announced that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had declared Wednesday and Thursday, December 25-26, 2024, as well as Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as non-working public holidays throughout Nigeria "to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively".    
• Nigeria Announces 2024-2025 Year-End Public Holidays
  The Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Abuja)
  
  The Permanent Secretary to the Nigerian Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, has announced that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had declared Wednesday and Thursday, December 25-26, 2024, as well as Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as non-working public holidays throughout Nigeria "to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively".    

December 22, 2024

• 
• 
• Victoria (VIC)
• Victoria (VIC)
• Victoria Extends List Of 2026 Public Holidays
  State Government of Victoria (Melbourne)
  
  The Government of Australia's State of Victoria has released the list of Non-metropolitan public holidays in Victoria for 2026 in accordance with the Public Holidays Act 1993 and details are published throughout the year when supplied by local municipalities.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "All of Victoria is entitled to the Melbourne Cup public holiday unless an alternate local holiday has been arranged by a non-metropolitan municipality. Dates will be added to this page when they are confirmed by local municipalities.".
  
  The initial list of 2026 public holidays in Australia's State of Victoria had been released last January.    
• Victoria Extends List Of 2026 Public Holidays
  State Government of Victoria (Melbourne)
  
  The Government of Australia's State of Victoria has released the list of Non-metropolitan public holidays in Victoria for 2026 in accordance with the Public Holidays Act 1993 and details are published throughout the year when supplied by local municipalities.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "All of Victoria is entitled to the Melbourne Cup public holiday unless an alternate local holiday has been arranged by a non-metropolitan municipality. Dates will be added to this page when they are confirmed by local municipalities.".
  
  The initial list of 2026 public holidays in Australia's State of Victoria had been released last January.    

December 21, 2024

• 
• 
• Anguilla
• Anguilla
• Anguilla 2025 Public Holidays Released
  Government of Anguilla (The Valley)
  
  The government of Anguilla has released its annual list of the official Anguilla bank holidays and non-working public holidays in Anguilla for the upcoming calendar year 2025, once again observing a June public holiday for the "Celebration of the Birthday of His Majesty The King".
  
  Recall that the list of 2023 public holidays in Anguilla, for the first time in decades, did not list a public holiday for either the Queen of the King.    
• Anguilla 2025 Public Holidays Released
  Government of Anguilla (The Valley)
  
  The government of Anguilla has released its annual list of the official Anguilla bank holidays and non-working public holidays in Anguilla for the upcoming calendar year 2025, once again observing a June public holiday for the "Celebration of the Birthday of His Majesty The King".
  
  Recall that the list of 2023 public holidays in Anguilla, for the first time in decades, did not list a public holiday for either the Queen of the King.    

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• 
• Mozambique
• Mozambique
• Mozambique Declares Christmas Eve Public Holiday
  Agencia de Informção de Moçambique (Maputo)
  
  Mozambique's Ministry of Labour has announced that, as per paragraph 2 of article 5 of the Regulation on Time Off, approved by Decree no. 7/2015 of 3 June, it had declared Tuesday, December 24, 2024, as a public sector holiday throughout the national territory.
  
  The declaration of one-off non-working public holidays is a relatively common feature of Mozambique's official public holidays calendar, as Mozambique's Labour Code gives the Minister of Labour the authority to declare one-off public holidays in Mozambique.    
• Mozambique Declares Christmas Eve Public Holiday
  Agencia de Informção de Moçambique (Maputo)
  
  Mozambique's Ministry of Labour has announced that, as per paragraph 2 of article 5 of the Regulation on Time Off, approved by Decree no. 7/2015 of 3 June, it had declared Tuesday, December 24, 2024, as a public sector holiday throughout the national territory.
  
  The declaration of one-off non-working public holidays is a relatively common feature of Mozambique's official public holidays calendar, as Mozambique's Labour Code gives the Minister of Labour the authority to declare one-off public holidays in Mozambique.    

December 20, 2024

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• 
• Argentina
• Argentina
• Argentina's Year-End 2024 Bank Holidays Extended Again
  Banco Central de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  
  The Association of Banks of Argentina (ABA), the Association of Public and Private Banks of Argentina (ABAPPRA), the Association of Specialized Banks (ABE) and the Association of Argentine Banks (ADEBA), have issued a joint statement announcing that, at the request of the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA), they had decided to also declare bank holidays in all private banks of Argentina on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
  
  Recall that, at the beginning of this week, the government of Argentina had issued the Decreto 1108/2024, declaring Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holidays.
  
  Subsequently, the BCRA announced that public banks would be closed the entire day on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, following the above decision by the Government of Argentina, and it invited private banks to also close the entire day on December 24 and December 31, 2024 (all banks are usually closed the afternoon of December 24 and December 31).    
• Argentina's Year-End 2024 Bank Holidays Extended Again
  Banco Central de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  
  The Association of Banks of Argentina (ABA), the Association of Public and Private Banks of Argentina (ABAPPRA), the Association of Specialized Banks (ABE) and the Association of Argentine Banks (ADEBA), have issued a joint statement announcing that, at the request of the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA), they had decided to also declare bank holidays in all private banks of Argentina on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
  
  Recall that, at the beginning of this week, the government of Argentina had issued the Decreto 1108/2024, declaring Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holidays.
  
  Subsequently, the BCRA announced that public banks would be closed the entire day on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, following the above decision by the Government of Argentina, and it invited private banks to also close the entire day on December 24 and December 31, 2024 (all banks are usually closed the afternoon of December 24 and December 31).    

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• 
• Costa Rica
• Costa Rica
• Costa Rica 2025 Public Holidays Not Set To Move For Now
  Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social de Costa Rica (San José)
  
  The Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Costa Rica (MTSS) has issued a communique confirming that, based on the current legislation, all the 2025 public holidays of Costa Rica would be observed on their respective set date, as Law No. 9875 of 2020 which moved three of the 2024 Costa Rican public holidays to a nearby weekend, expires at the end of 2024.
  
  The aforementioned situation might change due to the current public holidays Bill 23.981 which would reform article 148 of the Labor Code and which is making its way through the legislature.
  
  Recall that, last October, the Tourism Commission of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly approved Bill 23.981 which would make permanent, beginning in 2025, the moving of 3 annual public holidays to the nearest Monday in cases when they fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, namely April 11, May 1, and December 1st.
  
  The initial version of Bill 23.981, introduced in September, envisaged moving 4 annual public holidays, "but for reasons of tradition and custom" the July 25, Nicoya Annexation Day, public holiday was removed from the scope of the final version of Bill 23.981.
  
  Additionally, Bill 23.981 only moves fixed-date public holidays falling on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, while the initial text envisaged moving any fixed-date public holiday falling "on a date other than Monday or Friday" (meaning that weekend public holidays would have been compensated).    
• Costa Rica 2025 Public Holidays Not Set To Move For Now
  Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social de Costa Rica (San José)
  
  The Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Costa Rica (MTSS) has issued a communique confirming that, based on the current legislation, all the 2025 public holidays of Costa Rica would be observed on their respective set date, as Law No. 9875 of 2020 which moved three of the 2024 Costa Rican public holidays to a nearby weekend, expires at the end of 2024.
  
  The aforementioned situation might change due to the current public holidays Bill 23.981 which would reform article 148 of the Labor Code and which is making its way through the legislature.
  
  Recall that, last October, the Tourism Commission of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly approved Bill 23.981 which would make permanent, beginning in 2025, the moving of 3 annual public holidays to the nearest Monday in cases when they fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, namely April 11, May 1, and December 1st.
  
  The initial version of Bill 23.981, introduced in September, envisaged moving 4 annual public holidays, "but for reasons of tradition and custom" the July 25, Nicoya Annexation Day, public holiday was removed from the scope of the final version of Bill 23.981.
  
  Additionally, Bill 23.981 only moves fixed-date public holidays falling on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, while the initial text envisaged moving any fixed-date public holiday falling "on a date other than Monday or Friday" (meaning that weekend public holidays would have been compensated).    

• 
• 
• Gambia
• Gambia
• Gambia Declares December 26 Public Holiday
  The Point Newspaper (Banjul)
  
  The President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, as often happens, has declared a one-off public holiday on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
  
  As per the statement released by the Office of The President State House, "The Office of the President hereby informs the public that His Excellency President Adama Barrow has declared Wednesday December 25th, and Thursday December 26th 2024, as public holidays in observance of Christmas and Boxing Day, respectively.").
  
  The statement goes on to confirm that "Additionally, Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, has also been declared a public holiday to celebrate New Year’s Day".    
• Gambia Declares December 26 Public Holiday
  The Point Newspaper (Banjul)
  
  The President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, as often happens, has declared a one-off public holiday on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
  
  As per the statement released by the Office of The President State House, "The Office of the President hereby informs the public that His Excellency President Adama Barrow has declared Wednesday December 25th, and Thursday December 26th 2024, as public holidays in observance of Christmas and Boxing Day, respectively.").
  
  The statement goes on to confirm that "Additionally, Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, has also been declared a public holiday to celebrate New Year’s Day".    

• 
• 
• Guam
• Guam
• Guam Declares Additional Public Holiday On December 24
  The Government of Guam (Chamorro)
  
  The Governor of Guam, Lou Leon Guerrero has declared Tuesday, December 24, 2024, as a one-off GovGuam public sector holiday.
  
  As per the governor's executive order, "Pursuant to Guam law, and to provide our government agencies ample time to take necessary administrative action, including the provision of adequate statutory notice for hearings, today I announce that December 24, 2024 shall be a holiday in Guam".
  
  Recall that, last month, Governor Guerrero also declared the Friday after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29, 2024, as a one-off GovGuam public sector holiday in Guam.
  
  While the declaration of the Friday after Thanksgiving as a public sector holiday in Guam has been an almost annual tradition, except from 2018 to 2021, the declaration of December 24 as a public sector holiday has also occurred on many occasions, namely in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2018, 2019, and 2021.    
• Guam Declares Additional Public Holiday On December 24
  The Government of Guam (Chamorro)
  
  The Governor of Guam, Lou Leon Guerrero has declared Tuesday, December 24, 2024, as a one-off GovGuam public sector holiday.
  
  As per the governor's executive order, "Pursuant to Guam law, and to provide our government agencies ample time to take necessary administrative action, including the provision of adequate statutory notice for hearings, today I announce that December 24, 2024 shall be a holiday in Guam".
  
  Recall that, last month, Governor Guerrero also declared the Friday after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29, 2024, as a one-off GovGuam public sector holiday in Guam.
  
  While the declaration of the Friday after Thanksgiving as a public sector holiday in Guam has been an almost annual tradition, except from 2018 to 2021, the declaration of December 24 as a public sector holiday has also occurred on many occasions, namely in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2018, 2019, and 2021.    

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• 
• Haryana (HR)
• Haryana (HR)
• Haryana Declares December 21 Public Holiday
  Government of Haryana (Chandigarh)
  
  The Government of India's state of Haryana has declared Saturday, December 21, 2024, as a public sector holiday on account of the death, earlier today, of former Chief Minister, Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala.
  
  As per the Government spokesperson, "the government has declared December 21, 2024 as a public holiday in all state government offices as a mark of respect to the departed soul".
  
  The aforementioned announcement thus further amends the terms of the General Administration Department vide Notification No. 28/67/2008-1HR-1 of last December containing the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Haryana for the upcoming calendar year 2024.    
• Haryana Declares December 21 Public Holiday
  Government of Haryana (Chandigarh)
  
  The Government of India's state of Haryana has declared Saturday, December 21, 2024, as a public sector holiday on account of the death, earlier today, of former Chief Minister, Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala.
  
  As per the Government spokesperson, "the government has declared December 21, 2024 as a public holiday in all state government offices as a mark of respect to the departed soul".
  
  The aforementioned announcement thus further amends the terms of the General Administration Department vide Notification No. 28/67/2008-1HR-1 of last December containing the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Haryana for the upcoming calendar year 2024.    

• 
• 
• Indonesia
• Indonesia
• Indonesian Year-End 2024-2025 Bank Holidays Announced
  Central Bank of Republic of Indonesia (Jakarta)
  
  Indonesia's Central Bank has announced bank holidays on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26, 2024, as well as on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, on account of the upcoming Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025.
  
  The aforementioned announcement is in line with the Joint Decree (SKB) of the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Number 855 of 2023, Number 3 of 2023, Number 4 of 2023 concerning National Holidays and Collective Leave in 2024 of September 2023.    
• Indonesian Year-End 2024-2025 Bank Holidays Announced
  Central Bank of Republic of Indonesia (Jakarta)
  
  Indonesia's Central Bank has announced bank holidays on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26, 2024, as well as on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, on account of the upcoming Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025.
  
  The aforementioned announcement is in line with the Joint Decree (SKB) of the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Number 855 of 2023, Number 3 of 2023, Number 4 of 2023 concerning National Holidays and Collective Leave in 2024 of September 2023.    

• 
• 
• Myanmar
• Myanmar
• Myanmar Extends 2025 Public Holidays
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Yangoon)
  
  The Government of Myanmar has announced continuous public days (additional bridge public holidays) for the end of 2024 and the year 2025, "to facilitate easier travel and extended leisure periods for people and government employees".
  
  To compensate these 5 additional one-off public holidays, the Saturdays closest to these extended holidays will be substitute working days.
  
  Recall that, last July, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar had announced its annual list of the dates of the official Myanmar bank holidays and non-working public holidays in Myanmar for the calendar year 2025, taking into account the 2019 amendments to the rules governing the public holidays in Myanmar ("If the Public Holiday is on Saturday or Sunday, it will not replace to another working day") as well as the recent addition of 2 annual public holidays; International New Year Day ("to align Myanmar with international practices") and Chinese New Year ("in order to strengthen its Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship with China").    
• Myanmar Extends 2025 Public Holidays
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Yangoon)
  
  The Government of Myanmar has announced continuous public days (additional bridge public holidays) for the end of 2024 and the year 2025, "to facilitate easier travel and extended leisure periods for people and government employees".
  
  To compensate these 5 additional one-off public holidays, the Saturdays closest to these extended holidays will be substitute working days.
  
  Recall that, last July, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar had announced its annual list of the dates of the official Myanmar bank holidays and non-working public holidays in Myanmar for the calendar year 2025, taking into account the 2019 amendments to the rules governing the public holidays in Myanmar ("If the Public Holiday is on Saturday or Sunday, it will not replace to another working day") as well as the recent addition of 2 annual public holidays; International New Year Day ("to align Myanmar with international practices") and Chinese New Year ("in order to strengthen its Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship with China").    

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• 
• Nigeria
• Nigeria
• Bayelsa State Declares 7-Day Year-End Public Holidays
  Ondo State Government (Akure)
  
  The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy of the Nigerian State of Bayelsa, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, has announced that Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, had declared public sector holidays to run from Tuesday, December 24, until Monday, December 30, 2024, inclusively.    
• Bayelsa State Declares 7-Day Year-End Public Holidays
  Ondo State Government (Akure)
  
  The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy of the Nigerian State of Bayelsa, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, has announced that Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, had declared public sector holidays to run from Tuesday, December 24, until Monday, December 30, 2024, inclusively.    

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• 
• Pakistan
• Pakistan
• Pakistan Declares December 25 Bank Holiday
  The State Bank of Pakistan (Karachi)
  
  The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued the BPRD Circular Letter No. 24 of 2024 announcing that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), allied offices and public and private sector financial institutions "will remain closed on December 25, 2024 (Wednesday) being public holiday on the occasions of Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas, as declared by the Government of Pakistan".
  
  Today's announcement by the State Bank of Pakistan is in line with the list of 2024 public holidays in Pakistan, as announced in the Public and Optional Holidays for the calendar year 2024 published by the Government of Pakistan late last year.    
• Pakistan Declares December 25 Bank Holiday
  The State Bank of Pakistan (Karachi)
  
  The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued the BPRD Circular Letter No. 24 of 2024 announcing that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), allied offices and public and private sector financial institutions "will remain closed on December 25, 2024 (Wednesday) being public holiday on the occasions of Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas, as declared by the Government of Pakistan".
  
  Today's announcement by the State Bank of Pakistan is in line with the list of 2024 public holidays in Pakistan, as announced in the Public and Optional Holidays for the calendar year 2024 published by the Government of Pakistan late last year.    

• 
• 
• Pakistan
• Pakistan
• Sindh Declares December 27 Public Holiday
  Associated Press Of Pakistan (Islamabad)
  
  The Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department of Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh has declared Friday, December 27, 2024, as a public holiday "on account of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto".
  
  Recall that, a week ago, the Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh had declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, as a public holiday "on account of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birth anniversary" as well as a public holiday on Thursday, December 26, 2024, "for Christian employees in connection with Christmas".    
• Sindh Declares December 27 Public Holiday
  Associated Press Of Pakistan (Islamabad)
  
  The Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department of Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh has declared Friday, December 27, 2024, as a public holiday "on account of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto".
  
  Recall that, a week ago, the Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh had declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, as a public holiday "on account of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birth anniversary" as well as a public holiday on Thursday, December 26, 2024, "for Christian employees in connection with Christmas".    

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• 
• Paraguay
• Paraguay
• Paraguay Declares December 24 and 31 Public Sector Holidays
  Portal Paraguayo de Noticias (PPN)
  
  Paraguay's president, Santiago Peña, has released the executive decree No.3131 declaring Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holiday in Paraguay.
  
  As per the aforementioned decree, these 2 public sector holidays will apply to officials of the central public administration and decentralized entities, "taking into account that the aforementioned holidays are of great tradition and significance for the Paraguayan people, thus leading to considerable preparations and displacements".    
• Paraguay Declares December 24 and 31 Public Sector Holidays
  Portal Paraguayo de Noticias (PPN)
  
  Paraguay's president, Santiago Peña, has released the executive decree No.3131 declaring Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holiday in Paraguay.
  
  As per the aforementioned decree, these 2 public sector holidays will apply to officials of the central public administration and decentralized entities, "taking into account that the aforementioned holidays are of great tradition and significance for the Paraguayan people, thus leading to considerable preparations and displacements".    

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• 
• San Marino
• San Marino
• San Marino 2025 Public Holidays Released
  Banca Centrale della Repubblica di San Marino (San Marino)
  
  San Marino's Central Bank has published the San Marino Government's annual official list of bank holidays and non-working public holidays for the calendar year 2025.
  
  As usual, the aforementioned list includes the annual bank holidays of December 24 and December 31 which are not public holidays in San Marino.    
• San Marino 2025 Public Holidays Released
  Banca Centrale della Repubblica di San Marino (San Marino)
  
  San Marino's Central Bank has published the San Marino Government's annual official list of bank holidays and non-working public holidays for the calendar year 2025.
  
  As usual, the aforementioned list includes the annual bank holidays of December 24 and December 31 which are not public holidays in San Marino.    

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• 
• UAE (United Arab Emirates)
• UAE (United Arab Emirates)
• UAE Announces New Year 2025 Public Holidays
  Emirates News Agency (WAM)
  
  The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a public holiday for all employees of the private sector in the UAE on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announces that Wednesday, 1 January 2025, will be New Year’s paid holiday for all private sector employees in the UAE".
  
  In a separate announcement, the UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) similarly declared a public sector holiday for federal sector workers on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, adding that work will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025 (as the UAE observes a Saturday-Sunday weekend).
  
  Recall that, back in March 2019, the UAE Government had announced that beginning with the 2019 and 2020 public holidays, the number of public holidays enjoyed by the UAE private sector would be in line with the number of public holidays enjoyed by the UAE public sector.    
• UAE Announces New Year 2025 Public Holidays
  Emirates News Agency (WAM)
  
  The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a public holiday for all employees of the private sector in the UAE on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announces that Wednesday, 1 January 2025, will be New Year’s paid holiday for all private sector employees in the UAE".
  
  In a separate announcement, the UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) similarly declared a public sector holiday for federal sector workers on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, adding that work will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025 (as the UAE observes a Saturday-Sunday weekend).
  
  Recall that, back in March 2019, the UAE Government had announced that beginning with the 2019 and 2020 public holidays, the number of public holidays enjoyed by the UAE private sector would be in line with the number of public holidays enjoyed by the UAE public sector.    

December 19, 2024

• 
• 
• Argentina
• Argentina
• Argentina Extends Year-End 2024 Bank Holidays
  Banco Central de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  
  The Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) has announced that public banks would be closed the entire day on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, following this week's decision by the Government of Argentina to declare Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holidays.
  
  The Central Bank invited private banks to also close the entire day on December 24 and December 31, 2024.
  
  In any case, all banks are usually closed the afternoon of December 24 and December 31.    
• Argentina Extends Year-End 2024 Bank Holidays
  Banco Central de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  
  The Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) has announced that public banks would be closed the entire day on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, following this week's decision by the Government of Argentina to declare Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holidays.
  
  The Central Bank invited private banks to also close the entire day on December 24 and December 31, 2024.
  
  In any case, all banks are usually closed the afternoon of December 24 and December 31.    

• 
• 
• Benin
• Benin
• Benin Declares December 25 Public Holiday
  Site officiel du gouvernement du Bénin (Cotonou)
  
  Bénin's Minister of Labour and Social Security, Adidjatou A. Mathys, has issued the communique No.027 /MTFP /DC /SGM /DGT /SA announcing that the government of Bénin had declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, as a paid public holiday throughout the Bénin on account of Christmas.
  
  As per the aforementioned communique, signed by her Cabinet Director, Victorin Honvoh, "Le Ministre du Travail et de la Fonction Publique rappelle que conformément aux dispositions de la loi n° 90-019 du 27 juillet 1990 fixant les fêtes légales en République du Bénin, la journée du mercredi 25 décembre 2024, Jour de la Noël, est fériée, chômée et payée sur toute l'étendue du territoire national.".    
• Benin Declares December 25 Public Holiday
  Site officiel du gouvernement du Bénin (Cotonou)
  
  Bénin's Minister of Labour and Social Security, Adidjatou A. Mathys, has issued the communique No.027 /MTFP /DC /SGM /DGT /SA announcing that the government of Bénin had declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, as a paid public holiday throughout the Bénin on account of Christmas.
  
  As per the aforementioned communique, signed by her Cabinet Director, Victorin Honvoh, "Le Ministre du Travail et de la Fonction Publique rappelle que conformément aux dispositions de la loi n° 90-019 du 27 juillet 1990 fixant les fêtes légales en République du Bénin, la journée du mercredi 25 décembre 2024, Jour de la Noël, est fériée, chômée et payée sur toute l'étendue du territoire national.".    

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• 
• Cape Verde
• Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Extends Year-End 2024 Public Sector Holidays
  Ministro da Administração Interna (República de Cabo Verde)
  
  The government of Cape Verde has published, in the Official Gazette, the Resolution 111/2024 from the Council of Ministers, declaring public sector holidays (tolerância de ponto) on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
  
  As per the aforementioned resolution, "A day off is granted throughout the National Territory to employees and agents of the State, public institutes and local authorities, on the 24th and 31st of December 2024, for the whole day" because "these are periods that are traditionally marked by the movement of many people away from their place of residence, with a view to holding family gatherings" and "considering our status as an archipelago country and the need to create conditions so that employees can gather calmly, as a family, for celebrations".    
• Cape Verde Extends Year-End 2024 Public Sector Holidays
  Ministro da Administração Interna (República de Cabo Verde)
  
  The government of Cape Verde has published, in the Official Gazette, the Resolution 111/2024 from the Council of Ministers, declaring public sector holidays (tolerância de ponto) on Tuesday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
  
  As per the aforementioned resolution, "A day off is granted throughout the National Territory to employees and agents of the State, public institutes and local authorities, on the 24th and 31st of December 2024, for the whole day" because "these are periods that are traditionally marked by the movement of many people away from their place of residence, with a view to holding family gatherings" and "considering our status as an archipelago country and the need to create conditions so that employees can gather calmly, as a family, for celebrations".    

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• 
• Cuba
• Cuba
• Cuba Declares January 3-4 Public Holidays
  Órgano Oficial del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba (Granma)
  
  The Cuban government has declared Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4, 2025, as a one-off national public holiday "in recognition of the efforts made by the people during the challenging year of 2024".
  
  The aforementioned decree, contained in the Decree Law 118, was signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, and announced by Cuba's Secretary of the Council of Ministers, José Amado Ricardo Guerra, during the final day of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of People's Power.
  
  Recall that the Cuban government had similarly declared Wednesday, January 3, 2024, as a one-off national public holiday "recognizing the effort of the populace throughout the year 2023" in the Decree 100 as announced by the same Secretary Guerra, and which was implemented in the Resolution 20 of the Minister of Labor and Social Security.
  
  January 3 was also declared a one-off public holiday in 2022, but on that occasion it was due to both January 1 and 2 falling on a weekend ("taking into account the effort made in the current year by the people, protagonists of the victories against aggressions and the pandemic, and that the first and second January holidays are a weekend").    
• Cuba Declares January 3-4 Public Holidays
  Órgano Oficial del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba (Granma)
  
  The Cuban government has declared Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4, 2025, as a one-off national public holiday "in recognition of the efforts made by the people during the challenging year of 2024".
  
  The aforementioned decree, contained in the Decree Law 118, was signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, and announced by Cuba's Secretary of the Council of Ministers, José Amado Ricardo Guerra, during the final day of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the National Assembly of People's Power.
  
  Recall that the Cuban government had similarly declared Wednesday, January 3, 2024, as a one-off national public holiday "recognizing the effort of the populace throughout the year 2023" in the Decree 100 as announced by the same Secretary Guerra, and which was implemented in the Resolution 20 of the Minister of Labor and Social Security.
  
  January 3 was also declared a one-off public holiday in 2022, but on that occasion it was due to both January 1 and 2 falling on a weekend ("taking into account the effort made in the current year by the people, protagonists of the victories against aggressions and the pandemic, and that the first and second January holidays are a weekend").    

• 
• 
• Malaysia
• Malaysia
• Malaysia Announces Year-End 2024-2025 Financial Market Holidays
  Bernama News Agency (Johor Baru)
  
  Bursa Malaysia has announced that Malaysia's financial markets would be closed on Wednesday, De3cember 25, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, "in conjunction with the upcoming national public holidays", but that "Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will resume operations" on December 26, 2024, and January 2, 2025, respectively.
  
  Note that, while December 25 is a public holiday throughout Malaysia, January 1st is not observed as a public holiday in the Malaysian states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu.    
• Malaysia Announces Year-End 2024-2025 Financial Market Holidays
  Bernama News Agency (Johor Baru)
  
  Bursa Malaysia has announced that Malaysia's financial markets would be closed on Wednesday, De3cember 25, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, "in conjunction with the upcoming national public holidays", but that "Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will resume operations" on December 26, 2024, and January 2, 2025, respectively.
  
  Note that, while December 25 is a public holiday throughout Malaysia, January 1st is not observed as a public holiday in the Malaysian states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu.    

• 
• 
• Maldives
• Maldives
• Maldives 2025 Bank Holidays Released
  Maldives Monetary Authority (Male)
  
  The Maldives Monetary Authority (Maldives' Central Bank) has published the list of 2025 bank holidays in the Maldives.
  
  As usual, the aforementioned announcement states that "The bank holidays are in line with the public holidays; however, if the number of consecutive public holidays exceed more than 5 days, the 6th day may be a working day for MMA and banks".
  
  In addition to the list of Maldives public holidays, there is a year-end bank holiday ("MMA and banks will be closed for the general public on the last working day of the calendar year").
  
  Recall that the Maldives observe a Friday-Saturday weekend.    
• Maldives 2025 Bank Holidays Released
  Maldives Monetary Authority (Male)
  
  The Maldives Monetary Authority (Maldives' Central Bank) has published the list of 2025 bank holidays in the Maldives.
  
  As usual, the aforementioned announcement states that "The bank holidays are in line with the public holidays; however, if the number of consecutive public holidays exceed more than 5 days, the 6th day may be a working day for MMA and banks".
  
  In addition to the list of Maldives public holidays, there is a year-end bank holiday ("MMA and banks will be closed for the general public on the last working day of the calendar year").
  
  Recall that the Maldives observe a Friday-Saturday weekend.    

• 
• 
• Punjab (PB)
• Punjab (PB)
• Punjab Declares December 21 Electoral Public Holiday
  Government of Punjab (Chandigarh)
  
  The Government of the Indian State of Punjab has declared Saturday, December 21, 2024, as a one-off public holiday on account of the upcoming general and bye-elections to 5 municipal corporations and 41 municipal councils, being held on that date.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "21 December (Saturday) would be declared as a public holiday in all Punjab Government offices situated in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies where elections are going to be held under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881".
  
  The aforementioned declaration of Saturday, December 21, 2024, as a public holiday thus partially amends last December's Government vide notification No. 06/03/2023/ 2PP3/702 which specified the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Punjab for the calendar year 2024.    
• Punjab Declares December 21 Electoral Public Holiday
  Government of Punjab (Chandigarh)
  
  The Government of the Indian State of Punjab has declared Saturday, December 21, 2024, as a one-off public holiday on account of the upcoming general and bye-elections to 5 municipal corporations and 41 municipal councils, being held on that date.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "21 December (Saturday) would be declared as a public holiday in all Punjab Government offices situated in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies where elections are going to be held under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881".
  
  The aforementioned declaration of Saturday, December 21, 2024, as a public holiday thus partially amends last December's Government vide notification No. 06/03/2023/ 2PP3/702 which specified the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Punjab for the calendar year 2024.    

• 
• 
• South Sudan
• South Sudan
• South Sudan Announces Year-End 2024-2025 Public Holidays
  Government of South Sudan Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development (Juba)
  
  South Sudan’s Undersecretary to the Ministry of Labour, Mary Hillary Wani Pitia, has announced that December 24 to 26, 2024, and January 1, 2025, would be public holidays in South Sudan, on account of Christmas and New Year.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "The National Ministry of Labour hereby informs all the Civil Service Institutions, Commissions, Diplomatic Missions, UN Agencies, International and National Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Public at large that Christmas Holiday shall commence on Tuesday, 24th December 2024 until Thursday, 26th December 2024. Work resumes on Friday, 27th December 2024" and it goes on to add that "The Public is also informed that Wednesday, 1st January 2025, will be a public holiday and that all employees shall resume work on Thursday, 2nd January 2025.".
  
  After years of de facto independence, South Sudan became an internationally-recognized independent state in 2011.    
• South Sudan Announces Year-End 2024-2025 Public Holidays
  Government of South Sudan Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development (Juba)
  
  South Sudan’s Undersecretary to the Ministry of Labour, Mary Hillary Wani Pitia, has announced that December 24 to 26, 2024, and January 1, 2025, would be public holidays in South Sudan, on account of Christmas and New Year.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "The National Ministry of Labour hereby informs all the Civil Service Institutions, Commissions, Diplomatic Missions, UN Agencies, International and National Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Public at large that Christmas Holiday shall commence on Tuesday, 24th December 2024 until Thursday, 26th December 2024. Work resumes on Friday, 27th December 2024" and it goes on to add that "The Public is also informed that Wednesday, 1st January 2025, will be a public holiday and that all employees shall resume work on Thursday, 2nd January 2025.".
  
  After years of de facto independence, South Sudan became an internationally-recognized independent state in 2011.    

• 
• 
• Timor-Leste
• Timor-Leste
• Timor Leste Extends Year-End 2024 Public Holidays
  Press Release Government Of Timor-Leste (Dili)
  
  The government of Timor Leste has issued an announcement of the declaration of an additional year-end public sector holiday, on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 ("Tolerância de ponto no dia 24 de dezembro de 2024"), on account of the upcoming December 25 public holiday.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "A day off is granted on December 24, 2024, all day" and "This order covers all employees, agents and workers who work in the State's direct administration services, whether central or decentralized, or in indirect administration bodies".    
• Timor Leste Extends Year-End 2024 Public Holidays
  Press Release Government Of Timor-Leste (Dili)
  
  The government of Timor Leste has issued an announcement of the declaration of an additional year-end public sector holiday, on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 ("Tolerância de ponto no dia 24 de dezembro de 2024"), on account of the upcoming December 25 public holiday.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "A day off is granted on December 24, 2024, all day" and "This order covers all employees, agents and workers who work in the State's direct administration services, whether central or decentralized, or in indirect administration bodies".    

• 
• 
• USA (United States)
• USA (United States)
• USA Federal Public Sector Holiday December 24
  The White House (Washington DC)
  
  US President, Joe Biden, released an Executive Order declaring December 24, 2024, as a federal holiday.
  
  As per the aforementioned executive order, "All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty".
  
  Over the years, various US Presidents have declared one-off federal sector holidays so that federal civil servants get an extended Christmas break.
  
  President George W. Bush declared December 24 a public holiday for federal civil servants in 2001, 2002, and 2007, while December 26 was declared so in 2003 and 2008.
  
  President Obama declared December 24 as a public holiday for federal civil servants in 2009 and 2012, and released an Executive Order indicating that "All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Friday, December 26, 2014, the day after Christmas Day".
  
  President Trump, during his first term, extended the December 25 public holiday for federal civil servants in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
  
  Though not strictly related, President George W. Bush also decreed a day of national mourning on Tuesday January 2, 2007, in homage to former President Gerald Ford, to be observed as a federal holiday.
  
  President Trump declared a federal holiday on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, to honor of the death of America’s 41st President, George H. W. Bush.
  
  Note federal holidays only apply to federal civil servants, excluding the armed forces, meaning that this applies to slightly less than a million employees.    
• USA Federal Public Sector Holiday December 24
  The White House (Washington DC)
  
  US President, Joe Biden, released an Executive Order declaring December 24, 2024, as a federal holiday.
  
  As per the aforementioned executive order, "All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty".
  
  Over the years, various US Presidents have declared one-off federal sector holidays so that federal civil servants get an extended Christmas break.
  
  President George W. Bush declared December 24 a public holiday for federal civil servants in 2001, 2002, and 2007, while December 26 was declared so in 2003 and 2008.
  
  President Obama declared December 24 as a public holiday for federal civil servants in 2009 and 2012, and released an Executive Order indicating that "All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Friday, December 26, 2014, the day after Christmas Day".
  
  President Trump, during his first term, extended the December 25 public holiday for federal civil servants in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
  
  Though not strictly related, President George W. Bush also decreed a day of national mourning on Tuesday January 2, 2007, in homage to former President Gerald Ford, to be observed as a federal holiday.
  
  President Trump declared a federal holiday on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, to honor of the death of America’s 41st President, George H. W. Bush.
  
  Note federal holidays only apply to federal civil servants, excluding the armed forces, meaning that this applies to slightly less than a million employees.    

December 18, 2024

• 
• 
• Georgia
• Georgia
• South Ossetia Extends New Year 2025 Public Holidays
  ITAR-TASS
  
  The President of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev, has declared Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as a non-working public holiday.
  
  As per the aforementioned decree, "Declare December 31, 2024, as a non-working day with the preservation of wages for employees".
  
  Recall that, as per the Decree No.68 (О переносе выходных дней в 2024 году) of September 2023, Monday, December 30, 2024, is already a non-working day, being compensated by Saturday, December 28, 2024, having been declared a regular working day.    
• South Ossetia Extends New Year 2025 Public Holidays
  ITAR-TASS
  
  The President of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev, has declared Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as a non-working public holiday.
  
  As per the aforementioned decree, "Declare December 31, 2024, as a non-working day with the preservation of wages for employees".
  
  Recall that, as per the Decree No.68 (О переносе выходных дней в 2024 году) of September 2023, Monday, December 30, 2024, is already a non-working day, being compensated by Saturday, December 28, 2024, having been declared a regular working day.    

• 
• 
• Ghana
• Ghana
• Ghana Declares Public Holidays On December 25-26
  Ghana Government Portal (Accra)
  
  Ghana's Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, has issued the press statement Declaration of Monday, 23rd September, 2024 as a Public Holiday, announcing that "The general public is hereby informed that Wednesday, 25th December 2024 and Thursday, 26th December 2024, which mark Christmas Day and Boxing Day respectively are Statutory Public Holidays and should be observed as such throughout the country".
  
  The aforementioned announcement is in line with the list of 2024 public holidays in Ghana, as announced last January, in line with the 2018 amendments to the Public Holidays Act.    
• Ghana Declares Public Holidays On December 25-26
  Ghana Government Portal (Accra)
  
  Ghana's Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, has issued the press statement Declaration of Monday, 23rd September, 2024 as a Public Holiday, announcing that "The general public is hereby informed that Wednesday, 25th December 2024 and Thursday, 26th December 2024, which mark Christmas Day and Boxing Day respectively are Statutory Public Holidays and should be observed as such throughout the country".
  
  The aforementioned announcement is in line with the list of 2024 public holidays in Ghana, as announced last January, in line with the 2018 amendments to the Public Holidays Act.    

• 
• 
• Paraguay
• Paraguay
• Paraguay Amends 2025 Public Holidays
  Portal Paraguayo de Noticias (PPN)
  
  The President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, has signed the Decree No.3047 which moves 2 of Paraguay's annual public holidays in 2025, the Día de los Héroes de la Patria from March 1 to 3, and the Día de la Paz del Chaco (from June 12 to June 16), in the context of law 1723/01.
  
  As per the aforementioned Decree No.3047 ("Que por último, los feriados del 1 de marzo de 2025 y 12 de junio de 2025 se encuentran entre los feriados móviles previstos en la Ley N 1723/2001, estando en consecuencia legalmente autorizados sus traslados al día lunes siguiente en estos casos, para los dias lunes 3 de marzo de 2025 y 12 de junio de 2025."), these changes were made at the behest of the National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur) which had argued that such changes "would constitute a valuable opportunity to generate greater tourist and economic movement" as well as "opening opportunities to promote activities related to the commemoration of these patriotic dates of high significance" and "promoting tourism in natural areas and historical destinations".
  
  The Ley 1723 del 29 de junio de 2001 (Que Autoriza Al Poder Ejecutivo A Trasladar Los Feriados Nacionales Al Dia Lunes) gives the president of Paraguay the authority to move any, or all, mid-week public holidays to a nearby Monday (except New Year, Independence Day, día de La Virgen de Caacupé, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday).
  
  Despite its passage, over 20 years ago, and regular calls for the executive to avail itself of its prerogative to move mid-week public holidays to a nearby Monday, the provisions of law 1723/01 had rarely been used before 2012.
  
  But, since 2012 the practice has become an annual one, apart from 2020, when the pre-pandemic Decreto número 2757 was later partially abrogated by the Decreto número 4040.    
• Paraguay Amends 2025 Public Holidays
  Portal Paraguayo de Noticias (PPN)
  
  The President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, has signed the Decree No.3047 which moves 2 of Paraguay's annual public holidays in 2025, the Día de los Héroes de la Patria from March 1 to 3, and the Día de la Paz del Chaco (from June 12 to June 16), in the context of law 1723/01.
  
  As per the aforementioned Decree No.3047 ("Que por último, los feriados del 1 de marzo de 2025 y 12 de junio de 2025 se encuentran entre los feriados móviles previstos en la Ley N 1723/2001, estando en consecuencia legalmente autorizados sus traslados al día lunes siguiente en estos casos, para los dias lunes 3 de marzo de 2025 y 12 de junio de 2025."), these changes were made at the behest of the National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur) which had argued that such changes "would constitute a valuable opportunity to generate greater tourist and economic movement" as well as "opening opportunities to promote activities related to the commemoration of these patriotic dates of high significance" and "promoting tourism in natural areas and historical destinations".
  
  The Ley 1723 del 29 de junio de 2001 (Que Autoriza Al Poder Ejecutivo A Trasladar Los Feriados Nacionales Al Dia Lunes) gives the president of Paraguay the authority to move any, or all, mid-week public holidays to a nearby Monday (except New Year, Independence Day, día de La Virgen de Caacupé, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday).
  
  Despite its passage, over 20 years ago, and regular calls for the executive to avail itself of its prerogative to move mid-week public holidays to a nearby Monday, the provisions of law 1723/01 had rarely been used before 2012.
  
  But, since 2012 the practice has become an annual one, apart from 2020, when the pre-pandemic Decreto número 2757 was later partially abrogated by the Decreto número 4040.    

December 17, 2024

• 
• 
• Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers (Baku)
  
  The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan has released the list of non-working 2025 public holidays in Azerbaijan.
  
  The aforementioned list is divided into the list of annual public holidays which are not considered working days, as well as 9 days off in 2025 in accordance with the Labor Code and the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations.
  
  Recall that, earlier this month, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan had issued a decision that the upcoming Novruz public holidays would be observed from March 20-26, 2025, inclusively, and that Ramazan Bayram would be observed on March 30-31, 2025, with April 1st an additional day in lieu public holiday, and Gurban Bayram on June 6-7, 2025, 2025, with Monday, June 9, 2025, also a day in lieu public holiday.    
• Azerbaijan 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers (Baku)
  
  The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan has released the list of non-working 2025 public holidays in Azerbaijan.
  
  The aforementioned list is divided into the list of annual public holidays which are not considered working days, as well as 9 days off in 2025 in accordance with the Labor Code and the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations.
  
  Recall that, earlier this month, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan had issued a decision that the upcoming Novruz public holidays would be observed from March 20-26, 2025, inclusively, and that Ramazan Bayram would be observed on March 30-31, 2025, with April 1st an additional day in lieu public holiday, and Gurban Bayram on June 6-7, 2025, 2025, with Monday, June 9, 2025, also a day in lieu public holiday.    

• 
• 
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kyrgyzstan Approves List of 2025 Public Holidays
  Ministry of Labor Employment and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek)
  
  The Committee on Social Policy of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan has approved the draft of the new Labor Code in its second and third readings, meaning that 4 public holidays will become regular working days and any other public holiday falling on a weekend will no longer give rise to a day in lieu public holiday.
  
  Last April, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan announced changes to the annual public holidays in Kyrgyzstan, as part of the new Labor Code, namely, the abolition of the practice of declaring bridge public holiday compensated by working Saturdays, an annual 7-day period of public holidays in January and an 8-day period of public holidays in May, and the cancellation of 4 annual public holidays dates (whose status changes to holidays but working days).
  
  In June, the First Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, Jyparisa Rysbekova, announced the approval to the changes to the annual public holidays in Kyrgyzstan in the new Labor Code, as announced in April ("Kyrgyzstan will have 21 holidays in a year").
  
  And, last month, the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan released a draft cabinet resolution (О введении в действие Трудового кодекса Кыргызской Республики и внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты в сфере труда) on changes affecting the list of 2025 public holidays, for public discussion.
  
  Though the resolution is intended to apply to employees of state and municipal organizations, institutions and enterprises financed from the state budget, the draft do specify that "in order to rationally use weekends and non-working holidays, the draft proposes to recommend that heads of legal entities with private ownership, working on a five-day workweek schedule, transfer weekends next year in accordance with this resolution".    
• Kyrgyzstan Approves List of 2025 Public Holidays
  Ministry of Labor Employment and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek)
  
  The Committee on Social Policy of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan has approved the draft of the new Labor Code in its second and third readings, meaning that 4 public holidays will become regular working days and any other public holiday falling on a weekend will no longer give rise to a day in lieu public holiday.
  
  Last April, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan announced changes to the annual public holidays in Kyrgyzstan, as part of the new Labor Code, namely, the abolition of the practice of declaring bridge public holiday compensated by working Saturdays, an annual 7-day period of public holidays in January and an 8-day period of public holidays in May, and the cancellation of 4 annual public holidays dates (whose status changes to holidays but working days).
  
  In June, the First Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, Jyparisa Rysbekova, announced the approval to the changes to the annual public holidays in Kyrgyzstan in the new Labor Code, as announced in April ("Kyrgyzstan will have 21 holidays in a year").
  
  And, last month, the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan released a draft cabinet resolution (О введении в действие Трудового кодекса Кыргызской Республики и внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты в сфере труда) on changes affecting the list of 2025 public holidays, for public discussion.
  
  Though the resolution is intended to apply to employees of state and municipal organizations, institutions and enterprises financed from the state budget, the draft do specify that "in order to rationally use weekends and non-working holidays, the draft proposes to recommend that heads of legal entities with private ownership, working on a five-day workweek schedule, transfer weekends next year in accordance with this resolution".    

• 
• 
• Qatar
• Qatar
• Qatar's Central Bank Extends National Day Bank Holidays
  Qatar Central Bank (QCB)
  
  Qatar's Central Bank (QCB) has announced the bank holidays to be observed on account of the upcoming National Day for all financial institutions in Qatar.
  
  As per the official announcement, Qatari financial institutions will be on holidays Wednesday and Thursday, December 18 and 19, 2024, with the added specification that "all financial institutions will resume operations on Sunday, December 22, 2024".
  
  As usual, these bank holidays apply to the Qatar Central Bank (QCB), as well as all banks and financial institutions operating under the control of the QCB, Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) and Qatar securities company (QSC).
  
  Note that, since 2000, the weekends in Qatar are Fridays and Saturdays.    
• Qatar's Central Bank Extends National Day Bank Holidays
  Qatar Central Bank (QCB)
  
  Qatar's Central Bank (QCB) has announced the bank holidays to be observed on account of the upcoming National Day for all financial institutions in Qatar.
  
  As per the official announcement, Qatari financial institutions will be on holidays Wednesday and Thursday, December 18 and 19, 2024, with the added specification that "all financial institutions will resume operations on Sunday, December 22, 2024".
  
  As usual, these bank holidays apply to the Qatar Central Bank (QCB), as well as all banks and financial institutions operating under the control of the QCB, Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) and Qatar securities company (QSC).
  
  Note that, since 2000, the weekends in Qatar are Fridays and Saturdays.    

• 
• 
• Uttar Pradesh (UP)
• Uttar Pradesh (UP)
• Uttar Pradesh 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Government of Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow)
  
  The Government of India's state of Uttar Pradesh has published the Government Order vide Notification Section No.870/Date-2024-39(2)/2016 which contains the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming calendar year 2025.    
• Uttar Pradesh 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Government of Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow)
  
  The Government of India's state of Uttar Pradesh has published the Government Order vide Notification Section No.870/Date-2024-39(2)/2016 which contains the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming calendar year 2025.    

December 16, 2024

• 
• 
• Argentina
• Argentina
• Argentina Announces Year-End Public Sector Holidays
  Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  
  The government of Argentina has announced that, following an internal discussion within the Government about the possibility of returning to working days for the national public administration on both December 24 and 31, it was decided to declare Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holidays ("Después de un largo debate, el 24 y el 31 van a ser feriado estatal").
  
  The aforementioned decision is contained in the decreto 1108/2024.    
• Argentina Announces Year-End Public Sector Holidays
  Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  
  The government of Argentina has announced that, following an internal discussion within the Government about the possibility of returning to working days for the national public administration on both December 24 and 31, it was decided to declare Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as public sector holidays ("Después de un largo debate, el 24 y el 31 van a ser feriado estatal").
  
  The aforementioned decision is contained in the decreto 1108/2024.    

• 
• 
• eSwatini
• eSwatini
• Eswatini Declares December 18 Incwala Public Holiday
  Government of Swaziland Ministry of Home Affairs (Mbabane)
  
  The Minister for Home Affairs of the Kingdom of eSwatini, Princess Lindiwe, on instruction from King Mswati III, has announced that the main Incwala ceremony would occur on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, a date that has been declared as a public holiday in eSwatini.
  
  At the beginning of this month, when the acting Governor of the Ludzidzini Royal Residence announced the start of the annual Little Incwala, we had reported that, based on our calculations, we estimated that the upcoming Incwala public holiday would be announced for Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
  
  Due to the complex nature of the rule used to specify the date of the Incwala main day, and its related public holiday, the Incwala public holiday sometimes occurs twice in a year (as will be the case in 2026, 2029, 2034, ...). On the other hand some years it does not occur at all, as will be the case in 2025, 2028, 2033, ...
  
  Recall that, prior to 2018, eSwatini was called Swaziland.    
• Eswatini Declares December 18 Incwala Public Holiday
  Government of Swaziland Ministry of Home Affairs (Mbabane)
  
  The Minister for Home Affairs of the Kingdom of eSwatini, Princess Lindiwe, on instruction from King Mswati III, has announced that the main Incwala ceremony would occur on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, a date that has been declared as a public holiday in eSwatini.
  
  At the beginning of this month, when the acting Governor of the Ludzidzini Royal Residence announced the start of the annual Little Incwala, we had reported that, based on our calculations, we estimated that the upcoming Incwala public holiday would be announced for Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
  
  Due to the complex nature of the rule used to specify the date of the Incwala main day, and its related public holiday, the Incwala public holiday sometimes occurs twice in a year (as will be the case in 2026, 2029, 2034, ...). On the other hand some years it does not occur at all, as will be the case in 2025, 2028, 2033, ...
  
  Recall that, prior to 2018, eSwatini was called Swaziland.    

• 
• 
• Guatemala
• Guatemala
• Guatemala Public Sector Holidays December 23-24 and 30-31
  Diario de Centro América (Diario público de Guatemala)
  
  The Government of Guatemala has announced one-off public sector holidays on Monday and Tuesday, December 23 and 24, 2024, as well as on Monday and Tuesday, December 30 and 31, 2024 ("el Gobierno de Guatemala aprobó como asueto el 23, 24, 30 y 31 diciembre 2024 para los empleados del sector público").
  
  Note that, as per the Labor Code of Guatemala, decree 1441, and the Law that promotes internal tourism, decree 42-2010 and its reforms, the private sector will be off on the afternoon of December 24 and the afternoon of December 31, 2024.    
• Guatemala Public Sector Holidays December 23-24 and 30-31
  Diario de Centro América (Diario público de Guatemala)
  
  The Government of Guatemala has announced one-off public sector holidays on Monday and Tuesday, December 23 and 24, 2024, as well as on Monday and Tuesday, December 30 and 31, 2024 ("el Gobierno de Guatemala aprobó como asueto el 23, 24, 30 y 31 diciembre 2024 para los empleados del sector público").
  
  Note that, as per the Labor Code of Guatemala, decree 1441, and the Law that promotes internal tourism, decree 42-2010 and its reforms, the private sector will be off on the afternoon of December 24 and the afternoon of December 31, 2024.    

• 
• 
• Honduras
• Honduras
• Honduras Adds 4 Year-End 2024 Public Sector Public Holidays
  El Heraldo (Tegucigalpa)
  
  The Ministry of the Interior, Justice and Decentralization of Honduras has announced that all public sector officials and employees will enjoy 4 additional public holidays in December 2024.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "it has been decided to grant all officials and employees of the Executive Branch, on account of vacation, the days Monday 23 and Tuesday 24, as well as Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December of this year 2024. Restarting work on Thursday 26 December 2024 and Thursday 2 January 2025 respectively".
  
  Concerning the private sector of Honduras, recall that, earlier this month, the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP) announced that "In accordance with the end-of-year celebrations, in accordance with the provisions of Article 339 of the Labor Code, the holidays that employers must grant and pay are: Wednesday, December 25, 2024 and Wednesday, January 1, 2025", all the while affording itself extended Christmas holidays ("Due to the end-of-year celebrations, the COHEP offices will remain closed from Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3 of this year, resuming work on Monday, January 6, 2024").    
• Honduras Adds 4 Year-End 2024 Public Sector Public Holidays
  El Heraldo (Tegucigalpa)
  
  The Ministry of the Interior, Justice and Decentralization of Honduras has announced that all public sector officials and employees will enjoy 4 additional public holidays in December 2024.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "it has been decided to grant all officials and employees of the Executive Branch, on account of vacation, the days Monday 23 and Tuesday 24, as well as Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December of this year 2024. Restarting work on Thursday 26 December 2024 and Thursday 2 January 2025 respectively".
  
  Concerning the private sector of Honduras, recall that, earlier this month, the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP) announced that "In accordance with the end-of-year celebrations, in accordance with the provisions of Article 339 of the Labor Code, the holidays that employers must grant and pay are: Wednesday, December 25, 2024 and Wednesday, January 1, 2025", all the while affording itself extended Christmas holidays ("Due to the end-of-year celebrations, the COHEP offices will remain closed from Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3 of this year, resuming work on Monday, January 6, 2024").    

• 
• 
• Iraq
• Iraq
• Iraq Extends Christmas Public Holiday
  Al Sumaria News (Baghdad)
  
  The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the declaration of December 25 and 26, 2024, as public holidays on account of Christmas.
  
  Recall that, in late 2018, the Iraqi Cabinet amended the national holidays law to make December 25 a public holiday for all Iraqis, and in 2020, the Iraqi Parliament approved a bill which made Christmas Day, on December 25, as an annual public holiday in Iraq ("national holiday with an annual frequency").
  
  In a separate announcement, Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, instructed that Yazidi Fasting Day be observed as an official holiday. The statement from the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers states that "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed to consider the Yazidi Fasting Day, which falls on the first Friday of the eastern month of December, and is preceded by three days each year, an official holiday for the Yazidi component".    
• Iraq Extends Christmas Public Holiday
  Al Sumaria News (Baghdad)
  
  The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the declaration of December 25 and 26, 2024, as public holidays on account of Christmas.
  
  Recall that, in late 2018, the Iraqi Cabinet amended the national holidays law to make December 25 a public holiday for all Iraqis, and in 2020, the Iraqi Parliament approved a bill which made Christmas Day, on December 25, as an annual public holiday in Iraq ("national holiday with an annual frequency").
  
  In a separate announcement, Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, instructed that Yazidi Fasting Day be observed as an official holiday. The statement from the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers states that "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed to consider the Yazidi Fasting Day, which falls on the first Friday of the eastern month of December, and is preceded by three days each year, an official holiday for the Yazidi component".    

• 
• 
• Maldives
• Maldives
• Maldives Declare January 2 Public Holiday
  Maldives President's Office Press Release (Male)
  
  Maldives' President, Mohamed Muizzu, had declared Thursday, January 2, 2025, as an additional public sector holiday in the Maldives, "Since January 1, 2025, a public holiday, falls on a Wednesday, the additional holiday on Thursday will allow for a continuous period of rest leading into the week".
  
  Recall that January 1st is already an annual public sector holiday in the Maldives and that the Maldives observe a Friday-Saturday weekend.    
• Maldives Declare January 2 Public Holiday
  Maldives President's Office Press Release (Male)
  
  Maldives' President, Mohamed Muizzu, had declared Thursday, January 2, 2025, as an additional public sector holiday in the Maldives, "Since January 1, 2025, a public holiday, falls on a Wednesday, the additional holiday on Thursday will allow for a continuous period of rest leading into the week".
  
  Recall that January 1st is already an annual public sector holiday in the Maldives and that the Maldives observe a Friday-Saturday weekend.    

December 15, 2024

• 
• 
• Iran
• Iran
• Iranian Weather Public Holidays Extended To December 16
  Islamic Republic News Agency (Tehran)
  
  The Iranian government has declared Monday, December 16, 2024, as a second consecutive public holiday for schools, universities, and government departments, in multiple cities across the country, to control a rising demand for heating, as temperatures have dropped below zero Celsius in 18 out of 31 Iranian provinces.
  
  On Saturday, the Iranian government had declared Sunday, December 15, 2024, as a public holiday for schools, universities, and government departments, for the very same reasons.
  
  Weather-related public holidays are a staple of Iranian life.
  
  Recall that, last summer, the Iranian government had declared Sunday, July 28, 2024, as a public holiday for all government and commercial institutions as well as banks, as temperature reached over 45 degrees Celsius in 10 Iranian provinces.
  
  And last year, the Iranian government had similarly declared two days of public holidays, August 2 and 3, for government workers and banks nationwide on account of the current heat wave, with the meteorological office forecasting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in many cities, and nearly 50 degrees in the southwest. Recall that, normally, Sundays are regular working days in Iran.    
• Iranian Weather Public Holidays Extended To December 16
  Islamic Republic News Agency (Tehran)
  
  The Iranian government has declared Monday, December 16, 2024, as a second consecutive public holiday for schools, universities, and government departments, in multiple cities across the country, to control a rising demand for heating, as temperatures have dropped below zero Celsius in 18 out of 31 Iranian provinces.
  
  On Saturday, the Iranian government had declared Sunday, December 15, 2024, as a public holiday for schools, universities, and government departments, for the very same reasons.
  
  Weather-related public holidays are a staple of Iranian life.
  
  Recall that, last summer, the Iranian government had declared Sunday, July 28, 2024, as a public holiday for all government and commercial institutions as well as banks, as temperature reached over 45 degrees Celsius in 10 Iranian provinces.
  
  And last year, the Iranian government had similarly declared two days of public holidays, August 2 and 3, for government workers and banks nationwide on account of the current heat wave, with the meteorological office forecasting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in many cities, and nearly 50 degrees in the southwest. Recall that, normally, Sundays are regular working days in Iran.    

• 
• 
• Qatar
• Qatar
• Qatar Extends 2024 National Day Public Holidays Until December 21
  Qatari News Agency (QNA)
  
  The Qatari Amiri Diwan has announced that, on the occasion of the upcoming Qatar National Day, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the subsequent day of Friday, December 19, 2024, would also be an official public holiday in Qatar, and that work would resume on Sunday, December 22, 2024 (يعلن الديوان الأميري أنه بمناسبة قرب حلول اليوم الوطني للدولة في يوم الثامن عشر من شهر ديسمبر، فإن عطلة اليوم الوطني للدولة تبدأ اعتبارا من يوم الأربعاء الموافق 18 / 12 / 2024 وتنتهي يوم الخميس الموافق 19 / 12 / 2024، على أن يباشر الموظفون أعمالهم يوم الأحد الموافق 22 / 12 / 2024.).
  
  Recall that, December 18 was made into an annual public holiday by virtue of Qatar Law No. 61 of 2007, as a replacement for the September 3 public holiday that had previously been observed in Qatar.
  
  Weekends in Qatar are Fridays and Saturdays, since 2000.    
• Qatar Extends 2024 National Day Public Holidays Until December 21
  Qatari News Agency (QNA)
  
  The Qatari Amiri Diwan has announced that, on the occasion of the upcoming Qatar National Day, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the subsequent day of Friday, December 19, 2024, would also be an official public holiday in Qatar, and that work would resume on Sunday, December 22, 2024 (يعلن الديوان الأميري أنه بمناسبة قرب حلول اليوم الوطني للدولة في يوم الثامن عشر من شهر ديسمبر، فإن عطلة اليوم الوطني للدولة تبدأ اعتبارا من يوم الأربعاء الموافق 18 / 12 / 2024 وتنتهي يوم الخميس الموافق 19 / 12 / 2024، على أن يباشر الموظفون أعمالهم يوم الأحد الموافق 22 / 12 / 2024.).
  
  Recall that, December 18 was made into an annual public holiday by virtue of Qatar Law No. 61 of 2007, as a replacement for the September 3 public holiday that had previously been observed in Qatar.
  
  Weekends in Qatar are Fridays and Saturdays, since 2000.    

• 
• 
• USA (United States)
• USA (United States)
• USA Clarifies 2029 Federal Public Sector Holidays
  The White House (Washington DC)
  
  The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the US Federal Government, has released a updated list of the federal public holidays in the USA for the calendar year 2029.
  
  The aforementioned list of 2029 federal public holidays now contains the following footnote "Inauguration Day, January 20, 2029, falls on a Saturday. Federal employees in the Washington, DC, area are entitled to a holiday on the day a President is inaugurated on January 20th for each fourth year after 1965. Only employees scheduled to work on Saturday, January 20th, may be excused from duty and provided with paid holiday time off. In this instance, Inauguration Day is not observed on another day.".    
• USA Clarifies 2029 Federal Public Sector Holidays
  The White House (Washington DC)
  
  The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the US Federal Government, has released a updated list of the federal public holidays in the USA for the calendar year 2029.
  
  The aforementioned list of 2029 federal public holidays now contains the following footnote "Inauguration Day, January 20, 2029, falls on a Saturday. Federal employees in the Washington, DC, area are entitled to a holiday on the day a President is inaugurated on January 20th for each fourth year after 1965. Only employees scheduled to work on Saturday, January 20th, may be excused from duty and provided with paid holiday time off. In this instance, Inauguration Day is not observed on another day.".    

December 14, 2024

• 
• 
• Iran
• Iran
• Iranian Weather Public Holiday December 15
  Islamic Republic News Agency (Tehran)
  
  The Iranian government has declared Sunday, December 15, 2024, as a public holiday for schools, universities, and government departments, in multiple cities across the country, to control a rising demand for heating, as temperatures have dropped to below zero Celsius in 18 out of 31 Iranian provinces.
  
  Weather-related public holidays are a staple of Iranian life.
  
  Recall that, last summer, the Iranian government had declared Sunday, July 28, 2024, as a public holiday for all government and commercial institutions as well as banks, as temperature reached over 45 degrees Celsius in 10 Iranian provinces.
  
  And last year, the Iranian government had similarly declared two days of public holidays, August 2 and 3, for government workers and banks nationwide on account of the current heat wave, with the meteorological office forecasting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in many cities, and nearly 50 degrees in the southwest. Recall that, normally, Sundays are regular working days in Iran.    
• Iranian Weather Public Holiday December 15
  Islamic Republic News Agency (Tehran)
  
  The Iranian government has declared Sunday, December 15, 2024, as a public holiday for schools, universities, and government departments, in multiple cities across the country, to control a rising demand for heating, as temperatures have dropped to below zero Celsius in 18 out of 31 Iranian provinces.
  
  Weather-related public holidays are a staple of Iranian life.
  
  Recall that, last summer, the Iranian government had declared Sunday, July 28, 2024, as a public holiday for all government and commercial institutions as well as banks, as temperature reached over 45 degrees Celsius in 10 Iranian provinces.
  
  And last year, the Iranian government had similarly declared two days of public holidays, August 2 and 3, for government workers and banks nationwide on account of the current heat wave, with the meteorological office forecasting temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in many cities, and nearly 50 degrees in the southwest. Recall that, normally, Sundays are regular working days in Iran.    

• 
• 
• Jordan
• Jordan
• Jordanian Year-End 2024-2025 Public Holidays
  Jordan News Agency Petra (Amman)
  
  Jordan's Prime Minister, Jaafar Hassan, has issued a circular decreeing non-working public holidays in Jordan for Christmas 2024 and the New Year 2025.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "public servants and students will be off Wednesday, December 25, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, for Christmas and New Year" and "Thursday, December 26, 2024, will be an official holiday for Christian employees and students".
  
  Although today's announcement of December 25 and January 1 as public holidays mentions only "public servants and students", we recall that in past years the Jordanian Ministry of Labour always subsequently clarified that public holidays announced "for all ministries and governmental institutions" also applied to the private sector ("According to article 59 of the Labour Law, which clarifies the mechanism for making the employer work on his weekly, religious or public holidays, official communications issued for this purpose include private sector institutions without mentioning them in the communications.").    
• Jordanian Year-End 2024-2025 Public Holidays
  Jordan News Agency Petra (Amman)
  
  Jordan's Prime Minister, Jaafar Hassan, has issued a circular decreeing non-working public holidays in Jordan for Christmas 2024 and the New Year 2025.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "public servants and students will be off Wednesday, December 25, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, for Christmas and New Year" and "Thursday, December 26, 2024, will be an official holiday for Christian employees and students".
  
  Although today's announcement of December 25 and January 1 as public holidays mentions only "public servants and students", we recall that in past years the Jordanian Ministry of Labour always subsequently clarified that public holidays announced "for all ministries and governmental institutions" also applied to the private sector ("According to article 59 of the Labour Law, which clarifies the mechanism for making the employer work on his weekly, religious or public holidays, official communications issued for this purpose include private sector institutions without mentioning them in the communications.").    

• 
• 
• Poland
• Poland
• Poland's President Suspends Support For New Christmas Eve Public Holiday Bill
  Polskie Radio (Warsaw)
  
  Poland's President, Andrzej Sebastian Duda, has "suspended" his stance on the bill currently on his desk and which would create a new annual public holiday on December 24, beginning in 2025.
  
  Back in October Poland’s President Duda and the Catholic church had voiced their support for the proposal by The Left (Lewica) to make Christmas Eve a new annual public holiday in Poland.
  
  But, by the time the bill was passed by the lower house of parliament, the Sejm, and arrived on the President's desk, a clause was added allowing shops to open on the 3 Sundays that precede Christmas, something that President Duda opposes (currently shops can only open on the 2 Sundays before Christmas).
  
  Currently, Christmas Eve is a working day in the Polish retail sector until 14:00 (2pm).
  
  The last permanent change to the list of Poland's public holidays was in 2010 when the Polish Parliament approved a draft amendment to the Labour Law and Bill on Holidays, which re-established Epiphany as an official non-working public holiday, beginning in 2011.
  
  Until then, Epiphany had been the only religious public holiday not restored since Poland regained its independence in 1991.    
• Poland's President Suspends Support For New Christmas Eve Public Holiday Bill
  Polskie Radio (Warsaw)
  
  Poland's President, Andrzej Sebastian Duda, has "suspended" his stance on the bill currently on his desk and which would create a new annual public holiday on December 24, beginning in 2025.
  
  Back in October Poland’s President Duda and the Catholic church had voiced their support for the proposal by The Left (Lewica) to make Christmas Eve a new annual public holiday in Poland.
  
  But, by the time the bill was passed by the lower house of parliament, the Sejm, and arrived on the President's desk, a clause was added allowing shops to open on the 3 Sundays that precede Christmas, something that President Duda opposes (currently shops can only open on the 2 Sundays before Christmas).
  
  Currently, Christmas Eve is a working day in the Polish retail sector until 14:00 (2pm).
  
  The last permanent change to the list of Poland's public holidays was in 2010 when the Polish Parliament approved a draft amendment to the Labour Law and Bill on Holidays, which re-established Epiphany as an official non-working public holiday, beginning in 2011.
  
  Until then, Epiphany had been the only religious public holiday not restored since Poland regained its independence in 1991.    

• 
• 
• Portugal
• Portugal
• Madeira Adds April 2nd Autonomy Day Public Holiday
  Governo de Portugal (Lisboa)
  
  The Portuguese Republic's Representative for the Region of Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, has approved the proposal by the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira to declare April 2 as a new regional public holiday to mark Autonomy Day.
  
  As mentioned by the advisory judge in his response to parliament, this is the third regional public holiday so declared, "since 1979, the 1st of July has been designated Region Day" and "since the end of 2002, the 26th of December has also been made a regional holiday".    
• Madeira Adds April 2nd Autonomy Day Public Holiday
  Governo de Portugal (Lisboa)
  
  The Portuguese Republic's Representative for the Region of Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, has approved the proposal by the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira to declare April 2 as a new regional public holiday to mark Autonomy Day.
  
  As mentioned by the advisory judge in his response to parliament, this is the third regional public holiday so declared, "since 1979, the 1st of July has been designated Region Day" and "since the end of 2002, the 26th of December has also been made a regional holiday".    

December 13, 2024

• 
• 
• Cayman Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Cayman Islands Declare 2025 Public Holidays
  Gazette Office Cayman Islands Government (Grand Cayman)
  
  The office of the Deputy Governor's Office of the Cayman Islands has released the list of 2025 public holidays in the Cayman Islands, including Emancipation Day, reinstated in 2024, and which replaced Discovery Day as of 2024.
  
  The aforementioned announcement also includes June 23 as the date of the King’s Official Birthday, and April 30 as the anticipated date of the upcoming general elections.
  
  Both of these dates are yet to be confirmed.    
• Cayman Islands Declare 2025 Public Holidays
  Gazette Office Cayman Islands Government (Grand Cayman)
  
  The office of the Deputy Governor's Office of the Cayman Islands has released the list of 2025 public holidays in the Cayman Islands, including Emancipation Day, reinstated in 2024, and which replaced Discovery Day as of 2024.
  
  The aforementioned announcement also includes June 23 as the date of the King’s Official Birthday, and April 30 as the anticipated date of the upcoming general elections.
  
  Both of these dates are yet to be confirmed.    

• 
• 
• Curaçao
• Curaçao
• Curacao Declares 2024-2025 Year-End Public Sector Holidays
  Eilandgebied Curaçao (Willemstad)
  
  The Council of Ministers of the Government of Curaçao has declared 2 half-day and 2 full-day public sector holidays for the end of the year 2024-2025.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "civil servants will have the afternoon off starting at 12:00 PM on December 24th and 31st" and "there will be no work on December 27th and January 2nd".
  
  According to the Curaçao Government, the public service has "provided high-quality services to the community in 2024" and "experience shows that there is minimal use of government services on December 27th and January 2nd".    
• Curacao Declares 2024-2025 Year-End Public Sector Holidays
  Eilandgebied Curaçao (Willemstad)
  
  The Council of Ministers of the Government of Curaçao has declared 2 half-day and 2 full-day public sector holidays for the end of the year 2024-2025.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, "civil servants will have the afternoon off starting at 12:00 PM on December 24th and 31st" and "there will be no work on December 27th and January 2nd".
  
  According to the Curaçao Government, the public service has "provided high-quality services to the community in 2024" and "experience shows that there is minimal use of government services on December 27th and January 2nd".    

• 
• 
• Kosovo
• Kosovo
• Kosovo 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo
  
  The government cabinet of Kosovo has announced its annual list of official non-working public holidays and bank holidays in Kosovo for the calendar year 2025 ("Festat zyrtare në pajtim me nenin 2 të Ligjit Nr. 03/L-064, për Festat Zyrtare në Republikën e Kosovës"/"Službeni praznici u skladu sa članom 2. Zakona br.03/L-064, o Službenim praznicima u Republici Kosova").
  
  As usual, the aforementioned announcement includes the footnote "The dates of official holidays (Eid/Easter) may change according to the lunar calendar. In case of any changes, you will be notified with a second notice.".    
• Kosovo 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo
  
  The government cabinet of Kosovo has announced its annual list of official non-working public holidays and bank holidays in Kosovo for the calendar year 2025 ("Festat zyrtare në pajtim me nenin 2 të Ligjit Nr. 03/L-064, për Festat Zyrtare në Republikën e Kosovës"/"Službeni praznici u skladu sa članom 2. Zakona br.03/L-064, o Službenim praznicima u Republici Kosova").
  
  As usual, the aforementioned announcement includes the footnote "The dates of official holidays (Eid/Easter) may change according to the lunar calendar. In case of any changes, you will be notified with a second notice.".    

• 
• 
• Pakistan
• Pakistan
• Sindh Declares December 25-26 Public Holidays
  Associated Press Of Pakistan (Islamabad)
  
  The Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department of the Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh has declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, as a public holiday "on account of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birth anniversary".
  
  As per a separate notification, also issued by the Sindh Government, a public holiday is announced for Thursday, December 26, 2024, "for Christian employees in connection with Christmas".
  
  Recall that both dates had been included in the circular "Public and Optional Holidays for the calendar year 2024", released by Pakistan's Federal Ministry of Interior late last year.    
• Sindh Declares December 25-26 Public Holidays
  Associated Press Of Pakistan (Islamabad)
  
  The Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department of the Government of Pakistan's Province of Sindh has declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, as a public holiday "on account of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birth anniversary".
  
  As per a separate notification, also issued by the Sindh Government, a public holiday is announced for Thursday, December 26, 2024, "for Christian employees in connection with Christmas".
  
  Recall that both dates had been included in the circular "Public and Optional Holidays for the calendar year 2024", released by Pakistan's Federal Ministry of Interior late last year.    

December 12, 2024

• 
• 
• Nicaragua
• Nicaragua
• Nicaragua Announces 2024-2025 Year-End Public Sector Holidays
  Ministerio del Trabajo de Nicaragua (MITRAB)
  
  Nicaragua's Vice President, Rosario Murillo, has announced that Nicaragua's state workers and their institutions would benefit from public sector holidays from Saturday, December 21, 2024, until Monday, January 6, 2025, inclusively, on the occasion of the 2024/2025 year-end.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, yet to be formalized by Nicaragua's Minister of Labour, Alba Luz Torres, "The last day of work for workers in the service of the State and its institutions will be Friday, December 20, 2024, at the end of their workday, returning to their regular work on Tuesday, January 7, 2025" and the return to work on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, is described as "the beginning of a year full of great victories for the Nicaraguan people".    
• Nicaragua Announces 2024-2025 Year-End Public Sector Holidays
  Ministerio del Trabajo de Nicaragua (MITRAB)
  
  Nicaragua's Vice President, Rosario Murillo, has announced that Nicaragua's state workers and their institutions would benefit from public sector holidays from Saturday, December 21, 2024, until Monday, January 6, 2025, inclusively, on the occasion of the 2024/2025 year-end.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, yet to be formalized by Nicaragua's Minister of Labour, Alba Luz Torres, "The last day of work for workers in the service of the State and its institutions will be Friday, December 20, 2024, at the end of their workday, returning to their regular work on Tuesday, January 7, 2025" and the return to work on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, is described as "the beginning of a year full of great victories for the Nicaraguan people".    

• 
• 
• Portugal
• Portugal
• Portugal Declares December 24 and 31 Public Sector Holidays
  Governo de Portugal (Lisboa)
  
  The government of Portugal, in a decree signed by the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, has declared national public sector holidays (tolerância de ponto) on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
  
  As per the order published in the Official Gazette, "Tolerance is granted to civil servants who perform public functions in direct State administration services, and in public institutes on the 24th and 31st of December 2024".    
• Portugal Declares December 24 and 31 Public Sector Holidays
  Governo de Portugal (Lisboa)
  
  The government of Portugal, in a decree signed by the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, has declared national public sector holidays (tolerância de ponto) on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
  
  As per the order published in the Official Gazette, "Tolerance is granted to civil servants who perform public functions in direct State administration services, and in public institutes on the 24th and 31st of December 2024".    

December 11, 2024

• 
• 
• Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan Extends Novruz Ramadan and Gurban Bayram 2025 Public Holidays
  Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers (Baku)
  
  The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a decision that the upcoming Novruz public holidays would be observed from March 20-24, 2025, inclusively, and that, as March 22 and 23 fall on a Saturday and a Sunday, in accordance with the Labor Code, March 25 and 26, 2025, will also be non-working days in Azerbaijan.
  
  Additionally, Ramazan Bayram will be on March 30-31, 2025, and similarly April 1st will be an additional day in lieu public holiday.
  
  Finally, Gurban Bayram will be on June 6-7, 2025, 2025, and due to June 7 falling on a Saturday, Monday, June 9, 2025, will also be an additional day in lieu public holiday in Azerbaijan.    
• Azerbaijan Extends Novruz Ramadan and Gurban Bayram 2025 Public Holidays
  Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers (Baku)
  
  The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a decision that the upcoming Novruz public holidays would be observed from March 20-24, 2025, inclusively, and that, as March 22 and 23 fall on a Saturday and a Sunday, in accordance with the Labor Code, March 25 and 26, 2025, will also be non-working days in Azerbaijan.
  
  Additionally, Ramazan Bayram will be on March 30-31, 2025, and similarly April 1st will be an additional day in lieu public holiday.
  
  Finally, Gurban Bayram will be on June 6-7, 2025, 2025, and due to June 7 falling on a Saturday, Monday, June 9, 2025, will also be an additional day in lieu public holiday in Azerbaijan.    

• 
• 
• Bahrain
• Bahrain
• Bahrain National Day Bank Holidays December 16-17
  Bahrain News Agency (BNA)
  
  Bahrain's Central Bank has published a circular declaring the dates of the bank holidays in Bahrain for the upcoming National Day holidays.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, signed by the Director of the Banking Services Directorate, Hessa Saif Al Buflasa, "the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) will be closed during the National Day Holiday which will fall on Monday, 16th December 2024 and Tuesday, 17th December 2024 and will resume operations on Wednesday, 18th December, 2024.".
  
  The aforementioned announcement follows yesterday's announcement by Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, that "the Kingdom’s ministries, government departments and public institutions will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, corresponding to 16 and 17 December 2024, respectively".    
• Bahrain National Day Bank Holidays December 16-17
  Bahrain News Agency (BNA)
  
  Bahrain's Central Bank has published a circular declaring the dates of the bank holidays in Bahrain for the upcoming National Day holidays.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, signed by the Director of the Banking Services Directorate, Hessa Saif Al Buflasa, "the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) will be closed during the National Day Holiday which will fall on Monday, 16th December 2024 and Tuesday, 17th December 2024 and will resume operations on Wednesday, 18th December, 2024.".
  
  The aforementioned announcement follows yesterday's announcement by Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, that "the Kingdom’s ministries, government departments and public institutions will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, corresponding to 16 and 17 December 2024, respectively".    

• 
• 
• Punjab (PB)
• Punjab (PB)
• Punjab 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Government of Punjab (Chandigarh)
  
  The Government of India's state of Punjab has released its annual list of public holidays and restricted holidays for the upcoming calendar year 2024 in the Government vide Notification No. 06/01/2024-2PP3/677, dated 11-12-2024 ("It is hereby notified that the holidays enumerated in the schedule below shall be observed as Public Holidays in the public offices under the Punjab Government during the calendar year-2025").
  
  The aforementioned vide notification further states that "Besides the above holidays, each employee will also be permitted to avail himself/herself any two (2) holidays to be chosen by him/her out of the Restricted Holidays below during the Calendar Year-2025" and that "In addition to the above holidays each employee will be permitted to avail himself/herself any four (4) second half day holidays to be chosen by him/her to join the Nagar Kirtan/Sobha Yatra in connection with the list of occasion given below during the Calendar Year, 2025 and the concerned Controlling Authority shall ensure to maintain the record of such holidays".    
• Punjab 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Government of Punjab (Chandigarh)
  
  The Government of India's state of Punjab has released its annual list of public holidays and restricted holidays for the upcoming calendar year 2024 in the Government vide Notification No. 06/01/2024-2PP3/677, dated 11-12-2024 ("It is hereby notified that the holidays enumerated in the schedule below shall be observed as Public Holidays in the public offices under the Punjab Government during the calendar year-2025").
  
  The aforementioned vide notification further states that "Besides the above holidays, each employee will also be permitted to avail himself/herself any two (2) holidays to be chosen by him/her out of the Restricted Holidays below during the Calendar Year-2025" and that "In addition to the above holidays each employee will be permitted to avail himself/herself any four (4) second half day holidays to be chosen by him/her to join the Nagar Kirtan/Sobha Yatra in connection with the list of occasion given below during the Calendar Year, 2025 and the concerned Controlling Authority shall ensure to maintain the record of such holidays".    

• 
• 
• Tajikistan
• Tajikistan
• Tajikistan Adds January 11 Antimonopoly Holiday
  Majlisi namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan (MNMORT)
  
  The government of Tajikistan has issued a resolution to approve, and submit to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament), amendments to the law on public holidays, the establishment of a new annual holiday on January 11, the Day of Antimonopoly Authorities.    
• Tajikistan Adds January 11 Antimonopoly Holiday
  Majlisi namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan (MNMORT)
  
  The government of Tajikistan has issued a resolution to approve, and submit to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament), amendments to the law on public holidays, the establishment of a new annual holiday on January 11, the Day of Antimonopoly Authorities.    

December 10, 2024

• 
• 
• Bahrain
• Bahrain
• Bahrain Announces National Day Public Holidays
  Bahrain News Agency (BNA)
  
  Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has issued a circular announcing the date of the upcoming public holidays commemorating Bahrain's National Day and the Anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Accession to the Throne.
  
  As per the aforementioned statement, "the Kingdom’s ministries, government departments and public institutions will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, corresponding to 16 and 17 December 2024, respectively".
  
  Recall that weekends in Bahrain have been observed on Friday-Saturday, since September 2006.    
• Bahrain Announces National Day Public Holidays
  Bahrain News Agency (BNA)
  
  Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has issued a circular announcing the date of the upcoming public holidays commemorating Bahrain's National Day and the Anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Accession to the Throne.
  
  As per the aforementioned statement, "the Kingdom’s ministries, government departments and public institutions will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, corresponding to 16 and 17 December 2024, respectively".
  
  Recall that weekends in Bahrain have been observed on Friday-Saturday, since September 2006.    

• 
• 
• Karnataka (KA)
• Karnataka (KA)
• Karnataka Declares December 11 Public Holiday
  Government of Karnataka (Bengaluru)
  
  The State Government of India's state of Karnataka has announced that, following the death of former Karnataka Chief Minister and External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna, it had decided to declare a one off public holiday on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, the holiday will apply to all schools, colleges, and government offices, and no government functions or entertainment programs will take place during the mourning period.
  
  The declaration of a one-off public holiday on December 11, 2024, thus amends the terms of the Government vide Notification No. DPAR 16 HHL2023 of last November which specified the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Karnataka for the calendar year 2024.    
• Karnataka Declares December 11 Public Holiday
  Government of Karnataka (Bengaluru)
  
  The State Government of India's state of Karnataka has announced that, following the death of former Karnataka Chief Minister and External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna, it had decided to declare a one off public holiday on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
  
  As per the aforementioned announcement, the holiday will apply to all schools, colleges, and government offices, and no government functions or entertainment programs will take place during the mourning period.
  
  The declaration of a one-off public holiday on December 11, 2024, thus amends the terms of the Government vide Notification No. DPAR 16 HHL2023 of last November which specified the annual list of non-working public holidays in India's state of Karnataka for the calendar year 2024.    

• 
• 
• Vanuatu
• Vanuatu
• Vanuatu Electoral Public Holiday January 14
  Government of Vanuatu (Port Vila)
  
  As expected, Vanuatu's President, Nikenike Vurobaravu, has declared Tuesday, January 14, 2025, as a public holiday on account of the snap elections being held on that date.
  
  Recall that, earlier this month, Vanuatu's Electoral Office announced that the snap elections would be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
  
  At that time we stated that, as per the Constitution (Eighth) (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2023, we expected the date of these elections to be declared a one-off public holiday as was the case in the past.    
• Vanuatu Electoral Public Holiday January 14
  Government of Vanuatu (Port Vila)
  
  As expected, Vanuatu's President, Nikenike Vurobaravu, has declared Tuesday, January 14, 2025, as a public holiday on account of the snap elections being held on that date.
  
  Recall that, earlier this month, Vanuatu's Electoral Office announced that the snap elections would be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
  
  At that time we stated that, as per the Constitution (Eighth) (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2023, we expected the date of these elections to be declared a one-off public holiday as was the case in the past.    

December 9, 2024

• 
• 
• Andorra
• Andorra
• Andorra 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Associació De Bancs Andorrans (Andorra)
  
  Andorra's "Ministère des Finances et de la Fonction Publique" in conjunction with the "Associació de Bancs Andorrans" has released its annual list of the official bank holidays and public holidays in Andorrra, for the calendar year 2025.    
• Andorra 2025 Public Holidays Announced
  Associació De Bancs Andorrans (Andorra)
  
  Andorra's "Ministère des Finances et de la Fonction Publique" in conjunction with the "Associació de Bancs Andorrans" has released its annual list of the official bank holidays and public holidays in Andorrra, for the calendar year 2025.    

• 
• 
• China
• China
• Qiang New Year Festival Joins UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Yangoon)
  
  The Qiang New Year festival was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at last week's 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which took place in Paraguay from December 2 to 7, 2024.
  
  The Qiang people, from southwest Sichuan Province, are one of China's oldest ethnic groups and they celebrate Qiang New Year on the first day of the 10th Chinese lunar month (early November in 2024).
  
  Recall that, during that same UNESCO session, Mongolia became the 13th country to recognize the Novruz holiday as part of UNESCO's Cultural Heritage (the other 12 countries being Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan) and Myanmar's traditional Ata Thingyan festival was also inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.    
• Qiang New Year Festival Joins UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Yangoon)
  
  The Qiang New Year festival was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at last week's 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which took place in Paraguay from December 2 to 7, 2024.
  
  The Qiang people, from southwest Sichuan Province, are one of China's oldest ethnic groups and they celebrate Qiang New Year on the first day of the 10th Chinese lunar month (early November in 2024).
  
  Recall that, during that same UNESCO session, Mongolia became the 13th country to recognize the Novruz holiday as part of UNESCO's Cultural Heritage (the other 12 countries being Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan) and Myanmar's traditional Ata Thingyan festival was also inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.    

• 
• 
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kyrgyzstan Passes Law To Reduce Noise On Public Holidays
  Ministry of Labor Employment and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek)
  
  The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, has signed into law the Law on Silence bill that had been introduced by MP Dastan Bekeshev.
  
  The aforementioned law specifies time periods during which exceeding established sound pressure and noise levels is not allowed, including on weekends and public holidays, from 22:00 to 09:00.    
• Kyrgyzstan Passes Law To Reduce Noise On Public Holidays
  Ministry of Labor Employment and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek)
  
  The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, has signed into law the Law on Silence bill that had been introduced by MP Dastan Bekeshev.
  
  The aforementioned law specifies time periods during which exceeding established sound pressure and noise levels is not allowed, including on weekends and public holidays, from 22:00 to 09:00.    

• 
• 
• Saskatchewan (SK)
• Saskatchewan (SK)
• Saskatchewan Announces 2026 Public Holidays
  Government of Saskatchewan (Regina)
  
  The Government of Canada's Province of Saskatchewan has released its list of 2026 public (statutory) holidays, with the remark that "For most employees, these are days off with pay. Some employees may be required to work and special wage rates would apply".    
• Saskatchewan Announces 2026 Public Holidays
  Government of Saskatchewan (Regina)
  
  The Government of Canada's Province of Saskatchewan has released its list of 2026 public (statutory) holidays, with the remark that "For most employees, these are days off with pay. Some employees may be required to work and special wage rates would apply".