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

List of Public Holidays in Republic of Congo (2026)

Republic of Congo has a set of nationwide public holidays that apply to most employees, regardless of region. Use the table below to plan staffing, leave, and payroll for your Congolese team in 2026.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Congolese labour practice, public holidays that fall on an employee’s normal working day are generally treated as paid days off, so your company should pay employees their usual daily wage even if they do not work. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is typically observed on the following Monday, and employees who would normally work that Monday should receive paid leave for the observed day. Part-time employees are usually entitled to paid public holidays on a pro‑rata basis when the holiday falls on a day they are regularly scheduled to work. If your employees must work on a public holiday, the safest approach is to provide both the normal day’s pay and additional compensation in the form of a premium rate or a paid day off in lieu, in line with their employment contract or any applicable collective agreement.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Congolese labour law is enforced by the labour inspectorate, which can investigate complaints from employees about unpaid or improperly managed public holidays. If your company fails to provide paid leave or appropriate compensation for work on a public holiday, you may face administrative fines, orders to pay back wages, and, in serious or repeated cases, additional sanctions under the Labour Code. Common mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, failing to recognise the observed Monday when a holiday falls on Sunday, and not applying the same rules consistently to part‑time and full‑time staff. Because enforcement practices and penalty amounts can change, it is prudent to document your holiday pay policies clearly, keep accurate payroll records, and seek local legal advice for complex cases or disputes.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Republic of Congo, public holidays interact with overtime rules mainly through how working time is counted and compensated. Hours worked on a public holiday are typically treated as exceptional work and should be paid at a higher‑than‑normal rate or offset with equivalent paid rest, according to the Labour Code and any applicable collective agreements. While the basic weekly working‑time limits still apply, many employers treat any hours worked on a public holiday as overtime, even if the weekly threshold has not yet been exceeded, to stay on the safe side of local practice. To avoid disputes, your company should set out in writing the premium rate for holiday work, how those hours count toward weekly overtime thresholds, and whether employees can choose between extra pay and time off in lieu, then apply that policy consistently.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing public holidays in Republic of Congo from abroad can be tricky, especially when you are juggling different time zones, local customs, and evolving labour rules. Playroll helps you stay compliant by acting as your local employment partner, so your team in Congo gets the right holiday pay and your company avoids regulatory surprises.

With Playroll, you can onboard employees in Republic of Congo as compliant employees of record, apply the correct public holiday calendar automatically, and ensure that paid leave and holiday work premiums are calculated accurately in payroll. Our in‑country experts track changes to Congolese labour law, including how public holidays are observed and compensated, and update your employment documentation so you do not have to.

Instead of piecing together advice from multiple sources, you get a single platform that handles contracts, leave policies, and payroll in line with local requirements. That means fewer manual calculations, fewer errors, and more confidence that your Congolese team is treated fairly and legally.

If you are planning to hire or expand in Republic of Congo, Playroll gives you a practical way to:

• Hire employees compliantly without setting up a local entity
• Apply the correct public holiday and leave rules automatically
• Pay your team on time in local currency with accurate holiday premiums
• Standardise policies across countries while respecting local law
• Reduce legal and administrative risk around time off and overtime

By partnering with Playroll, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the complexities of public holidays, leave, and payroll compliance in Republic of Congo.