2019 Holidays - Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- Substitute Day for Key Fixed Holidays: Many major fixed-date public holidays (e.g., Independence Day on February 27 and Restoration Day on August 16) that fall on a Sunday are often observed on the following Monday as a substitute day.

- Official Calendar and Decrees: The annual government-issued public holiday calendar specifies which holidays will be "mondayized." Employers and employees should consult this schedule for the current observance rules.

- Employer Responsibilities: If a holiday is shifted to Monday, employers must observe the substitute day. Employees working on that day are entitled to overtime pay or compensatory time off, per Dominican labor law.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- Observed on the Calendar Date or Shifted: Generally, if a public holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on that day. However, for some key fixed holidays, the official decree may call for the holiday to be shifted to Monday to create a long weekend.

- Employer Compliance: Employers must follow the official calendar. If no shift is declared, the holiday remains on Saturday, and employees working that day should receive appropriate compensation.

3. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- Government-Initiated Bridge Days: Occasionally, the government may declare additional “bridge” days to extend a holiday period into a long weekend, especially when multiple holidays occur close together.

- No Automatic Bridging: There is no uniform rule automatically creating long weekends; any bridging is explicitly set in the official holiday schedule.

- Employer Discretion: Employers may offer extra days off beyond statutory requirements, but must at least adhere to the government-declared schedule.

4. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- Fixed vs. Movable Holidays: Fixed-date holidays (e.g., New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Restoration Day, Constitution Day, Christmas Day) follow the rules above. Movable holidays (e.g., Good Friday, Easter Monday) are observed on the dates specified by the official decree.

- Local Observances: Some regional or culturally specific holidays may have additional or modified rules as determined by local regulations.

5. Additional Notes

- Legal Framework: Public holiday observance is governed by national legislation and communicated annually via the official holiday calendar.

- Compensation for Holiday Work: Employees working on a public holiday—or its substitute day—are entitled to premium pay or compensatory time off as provided under Dominican labor law.

- Employer Flexibility: Employers may offer additional benefits or extra days off at their discretion, but must adhere to the official calendar.