What Are The Public Holidays in Tonga in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Tonga (2026)

Tonga’s public holidays are closely linked to Christian observances and the Tongan monarchy, and most apply nationwide. The dates below reflect the core statutory holidays that employers should plan around in 2026.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Tongan labour practice, employees who would normally work on a day that is a public holiday are generally entitled to a paid day off when the business is closed for that holiday. Where a public holiday falls on a weekend, the government may declare an observed weekday as the official holiday, and employees are typically treated as entitled to paid leave on that observed day instead.

If your operations remain open and an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are usually entitled to their normal pay for hours worked plus a premium or alternative compensatory time off, according to their contract, collective agreement, or company policy. Part‑time employees who are regularly scheduled on that day of the week should receive public holiday benefits on a pro‑rated basis, while casual staff are generally only paid for hours actually worked.

Because specific entitlements can depend on the individual employment agreement and any applicable sector rules, you should clearly document public holiday arrangements in contracts and internal policies, and align them with the most recent Tongan labour legislation and any government notices for observed days.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to respect public holiday rights in Tonga can expose your company to compliance risk, including orders to back‑pay underpaid wages, administrative penalties, and potential prosecution for repeated or deliberate breaches. Labour authorities can investigate complaints from employees, review time and pay records, and require employers to correct non‑compliant practices.

Common mistakes include treating public holidays as normal working days without premium pay or time off in lieu, failing to honour government‑declared observed days when holidays fall on weekends, and excluding regular part‑time staff from holiday pay. To reduce risk, keep accurate attendance and payroll records, track official gazettes announcing holiday observances, and ensure your local managers understand how to apply public holiday rules consistently.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in Tonga can affect overtime because hours worked on a holiday are often treated differently from ordinary working days. While the exact overtime threshold and rate will depend on Tongan law in force and the employee’s contract, it is common for work on a public holiday to attract a higher‑than‑normal rate or an additional day off in lieu.

In practice, you should treat public holiday hours as a separate category in your payroll system, applying any contractual premium (for example, 1.5x or 2x the base rate) and counting those hours toward weekly overtime calculations where required. If your policy offers time off in lieu instead of a cash premium, make sure the entitlement is clearly recorded, scheduled within a reasonable period, and agreed in writing with the employee. When in doubt, apply the more generous interpretation in favour of the employee to minimise disputes and potential claims.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing public holidays in Tonga from abroad can be tricky, especially when royal events, observed days, or special proclamations change the calendar at short notice. Playroll helps your company stay ahead of these changes so your team in Tonga is paid correctly every time.

With Playroll, you can rely on locally informed compliance support that tracks Tongan public holidays, observed days, and leave rules in real time. We build these requirements directly into employment agreements and payroll calculations, so holiday pay, overtime premiums, and time‑off in lieu are handled automatically and transparently for your employees.

Whether you are hiring your first employee in Nukuʻalofa or scaling a distributed team across the Pacific, Playroll acts as your in‑country HR and payroll partner. We help you:

• Set up locally compliant contracts that reflect Tongan public holiday rules
• Configure payroll so holiday pay and premiums are calculated correctly
• Apply observed days when holidays fall on weekends
• Keep clean records for audits and labour inspections
• Update policies quickly when Tongan regulations or royal observances change

This content is for general information only and is not legal advice. For specific questions about your obligations in Tonga, you should consult qualified legal counsel or a local labour specialist. Playroll can then translate that advice into day‑to‑day processes that keep your team compliant and your operations running smoothly.