What Are The Public Holidays in Morocco in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Morocco (2026)

Morocco’s public holidays combine fixed civil dates and Islamic religious observances based on the lunar calendar. Below is an indicative list for 2026 to help you plan staffing and leave, noting that Islamic dates may shift by a day depending on official moon sightings.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Moroccan labour law generally requires employers to provide paid leave on official public holidays that fall on an employee’s normal working day. Employees are entitled to retain their usual pay for these days without having to use their annual leave balance. If a public holiday falls on a non‑working day for the employee, there is typically no additional paid day off granted, unless a more generous arrangement is set out in a collective agreement or company policy.

When employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are usually entitled to both their normal wage and a premium or compensatory rest, according to the Labour Code and any applicable collective agreements. Part‑time employees are entitled to public holiday pay on a pro‑rata basis for holidays that fall on their scheduled working days. Islamic holidays are national and apply across Morocco, but the exact calendar dates are confirmed by the authorities shortly before each observance, so you should verify the official announcements each year and adjust schedules and payroll accordingly.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

If your company fails to respect public holiday entitlements in Morocco, you risk administrative fines and potential labour inspections. The Moroccan Labour Inspectorate is responsible for monitoring compliance and can investigate complaints from employees about unpaid or incorrectly paid public holidays. Repeated or serious non‑compliance can lead to higher fines, orders to rectify underpayments, and, in some cases, court proceedings brought by employees seeking back pay and damages.

Common mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, failing to apply premium pay when employees work on a holiday, and not adjusting payroll when Islamic holiday dates are officially confirmed. Another frequent issue is inconsistent treatment between local and expatriate staff, which can trigger discrimination claims. To reduce risk, you should keep clear records of working schedules, holiday calendars, and pay calculations, and ensure your internal policies are aligned with the Moroccan Labour Code and any sector‑specific collective agreements.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Morocco, public holidays are generally treated as rest days, and work performed on these days is usually compensated at a higher rate than ordinary hours. While the exact premium can depend on the Labour Code provisions and any applicable collective agreement, work on a public holiday is typically paid at a premium on top of the employee’s normal wage, and may also count toward weekly overtime thresholds if total hours exceed the standard working time.

If an employee works on a public holiday, you may be required to provide either premium pay, compensatory time off, or a combination of both. You should also monitor weekly working hours carefully, because hours worked on holidays can push employees over the legal weekly limit, triggering overtime obligations. Because interpretations and sectoral rules can vary, it is safest to check the specific provisions that apply to your industry and to document any agreed arrangements with employees in writing.

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