What Are The Public Holidays in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Democratic Republic of Congo (2026)

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, public holidays are set at national level and apply across the country. Use this 2026 holiday list to plan staffing, leave approvals, and payroll for your team in DRC.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Congolese labour law, public holidays are generally treated as paid non-working days for employees, provided the day is a normal working day for the employee. In practice, this means your employees should receive their regular basic pay for statutory public holidays without being required to work, unless an exception applies.

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is commonly observed on the following working day, although specific observance rules can vary by sector and collective agreement. You should confirm with your local payroll provider or legal counsel how each holiday is treated in your industry and region.

Part-time employees are usually entitled to paid public holidays on a pro-rated basis when the holiday falls on a day they would normally work. If a part-time employee does not normally work on the day on which the holiday falls, they are typically not entitled to additional paid time off, unless a contract or collective agreement grants more generous rights.

When employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are generally entitled to both their normal pay for the day and additional compensation, often in the form of premium pay or compensatory rest. The exact rate and form of compensation can depend on the applicable collective agreement, internal company policy, or individual employment contract, so you should ensure your contracts and policies clearly spell this out.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failing to respect public holiday rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo can expose your company to administrative and financial consequences. Labour inspectors, under the authority of the Ministry of Labour, are empowered to review your time-off practices, payroll records, and employment contracts to verify compliance with public holiday rules.

Where inspectors find violations, employers can face fines and orders to rectify non-compliance, including back payment of wages for unpaid or underpaid holidays, plus potential surcharges. Repeated or serious breaches can increase the level of sanctions and may also lead to reputational risk, disputes with employees, and potential court proceedings.

Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, failing to apply premium pay when employees work on a holiday, misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid holiday obligations, and not keeping accurate records of hours worked and holiday pay. To reduce risk, ensure your local HR or payroll partner maintains clear documentation and that your employment contracts reflect statutory holiday entitlements.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in DRC interact with working time and overtime rules in a way that can increase your labour costs if not managed carefully. Hours worked on a public holiday are typically treated as exceptional work and may attract premium pay above the normal hourly rate. In many sectors, work on a public holiday is either discouraged or compensated at a higher rate than standard overtime, or offset with compensatory rest.

Overtime thresholds are usually calculated based on the normal weekly working hours set by law or by collective agreement. When a public holiday falls within the week and the employee does not work that day, the holiday does not normally count as worked time for overtime calculation, but the employee still receives their regular pay for the day. If an employee works on the holiday, those hours can both trigger overtime and attract holiday premiums, depending on the applicable rules.

Because practice can vary by sector and collective agreement, you should confirm with a local expert whether holiday hours are counted separately from standard overtime, what premium multipliers apply, and whether compensatory rest can substitute for premium pay. Clear internal policies and accurate timekeeping are essential to avoid underpayment claims.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing the DRC's public holidays and leave rules doesn’t have to be complex. Playroll keeps you 100% compliant by automatically tracking local holidays, observed days, and pay requirements –  so your team is paid correctly and on time, every time.

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or scaling a growing team, Playroll lets you employ talent without setting up a local entity. We handle compliant contracts, benefits, and payroll in one platform, so you can reduce compliance risk and focus on growing your business while we take care of the heavy-lifting in the background. Book a chat with our team to get started.