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Colombia Public Holiday Regulations
Colombian employees have a legal right to paid public holidays. Under the Colombian Labor Code, national holidays are considered mandatory paid leave for all employees, regardless of industry. Most holidays are observed nationwide, though a few have religious or regional significance. If employees are required to work on a public holiday, they’re entitled to additional pay, typically double their normal rate, plus a compensatory rest day.
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List of Public Holidays in Colombia in 2025
The table below lists all national public holidays in Colombia for 2025, including fixed and movable dates (some religious holidays change yearly). Employers should note that if a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is often moved to the following Monday under Colombia’s “Emiliani Law.”
Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?
Yes. Colombian labor law requires employers to provide paid leave on official public holidays. Both full-time and part-time employees are entitled to payment for these days, as long as the day would normally be a scheduled workday. Public holidays are considered separate from annual leave entitlements — they do not reduce vacation time.
If an employee is required to work on a holiday, they must receive double pay for those hours, plus an alternative rest day. This rule applies across all employment contracts, unless a collective agreement or company policy offers a more generous benefit.
Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave
Failure to comply with public holiday pay obligations can result in significant sanctions under Colombian labor law. Employers that deny paid leave or fail to compensate correctly for holiday work may face fines imposed by the Ministry of Labor, which can range from several minimum monthly wages (SMMLV) depending on the severity and recurrence of the violation.
Common compliance issues often arise with part-time, temporary, or probationary workers, where employers mistakenly assume reduced entitlement. Employees can file claims with the Ministry of Labor, and in some cases, non-compliant employers may be subject to audits, back-pay orders, or reputational damage.
To avoid violations, employers should track all holidays carefully, ensure payroll systems apply the correct rates automatically, and clearly communicate entitlements in employment contracts and pay slips.
How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?
Public holidays in Colombia do not count toward standard working hours, meaning any hours worked on those days are treated as overtime. Employees must be paid at double their regular rate, and the hours are not included in normal overtime thresholds — they are an additional premium category on top of standard weekly or daily limits.
Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll
Managing leave in Colombia can get complicated — between the country’s 20 public holidays, shifting dates, and overtime premiums, it’s easy for payroll errors to creep in. Playroll helps global employers stay on top of these requirements effortlessly.
Leave entitlements, from public holidays to annual leave and special allowances, vary across countries and even regions. Playroll ensures your business stays fully compliant by tracking every change in Colombian labor law and applying the correct entitlements automatically. With Playroll, you’ll never have to second-guess whether your Colombian employees are getting the right holiday pay or compensatory rest.
Partner with Playroll to simplify global leave management and ensure your team is paid accurately, every time.
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