2025 Holidays - Croatia

Croatia Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- No automatic Monday substitution: In Croatia, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is generally observed on that day. There is no statutory requirement to transfer the holiday to Monday.

- Employer discretion: Some employers or collective bargaining agreements may provide a day off in lieu for a Sunday holiday, but this is not mandated by national law.

- Holiday compensation: Employees who work on a public holiday that occurs on a Sunday are typically entitled to overtime pay or compensatory time off, in accordance with Croatian labor regulations and their individual contracts.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- No standard shift: If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on that day. There is generally no automatic movement of the holiday to a weekday.

- Standard practice: If Saturday is a regular workday, the holiday is observed on that day; if it is already a rest day, the holiday remains on its calendar date.

- Compensation: Employees required to work on a Saturday public holiday should receive overtime pay or compensatory leave, as provided under Croatian labor laws.

3. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- No systematic bridging: Croatia does not have a statutory provision for automatically creating extra “bridge” days when a holiday falls adjacent to a weekend.

- Occasional adjustments: On rare occasions, government or local authorities may designate additional days off around major holidays to create long weekends, but these are issued on an ad hoc basis.

- Employer policies: Employers may voluntarily offer bridging days or extra time off, but such benefits exceed the legal minimum and are at the employer’s discretion.

4. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- Fixed National Holidays: Many national holidays (e.g., Independence Day on June 25, Statehood Day on May 30, Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day on August 5) are fixed by law and observed on their set dates regardless of the day of the week.

- Religious Holidays: Religious holidays such as Easter Monday and Christmas are observed on their calendar dates. If they fall on a weekend, they remain on that date unless local practice or company policy provides otherwise.

- Ad hoc Declarations: In special circumstances, the government may declare additional public holidays for significant national events. Any modifications to the standard observance will be clearly communicated.

5. Additional Notes

- Legal Framework: Public holidays in Croatia are established by national legislation and regulations. Employers are required to follow these statutory observances, though collective agreements may offer additional benefits.

- Official Calendar: The Ministry of Labour and Pension System publishes the annual public holiday calendar, which specifies observed dates and any shifts.

- Compensation for Holiday Work: Employees working on public holidays are generally entitled to overtime pay or compensatory rest, as set by Croatian labor law.

- Employer Flexibility: While statutory rules set the minimum requirements, employers may choose to offer more generous holiday arrangements, but these are discretionary.