What Are The Public Holidays in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Bosnia & Herzegovina (2026)

Bosnia & Herzegovina has a complex public holiday landscape because different entities and ethnic groups observe different days. The table below lists the main nationwide and widely observed public holidays in 2026, but your company should always confirm local rules in the specific entity and municipality where employees work.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, in Bosnia & Herzegovina employers generally have to provide paid leave on statutory public holidays, but the exact entitlement depends on the entity (Federation of BiH or Republika Srpska), Brčko District regulations, and any applicable collective agreements. In practice, full‑time employees are entitled to a paid day off on official public holidays recognised in their entity, while part‑time employees are usually entitled to paid leave only if the holiday falls on a day they would normally work.

If employees are required to work on a public holiday, labour laws and collective agreements typically require premium pay (often at least 50% above the regular hourly rate, and in some sectors 100% or more) or a combination of premium pay and a compensatory day off. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, many public bodies and employers in the Federation of BiH observe the holiday on the next working day, while practice in Republika Srpska can differ, so you should check local regulations and any sectoral agreements.

Religious holidays such as Catholic and Orthodox Easter or Eid are usually paid days off only for employees who belong to that religion, and employees may need to declare their religious affiliation or request the leave in line with internal policies. Because the framework is decentralised, your company should always verify which holidays are mandatory paid days off for each employee based on their work location and status.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failing to grant paid public holiday leave or to pay the correct premium for holiday work can expose your company to labour inspections, administrative fines, and back‑pay orders. Labour inspectorates at entity and district level enforce compliance and can order employers to correct violations, pay outstanding wages with interest, and adjust working time records.

Fines vary by entity and company size, but they can reach the equivalent of several thousand euros for legal entities, with additional fines for responsible managers. Common mistakes include treating all holidays as optional, not distinguishing between entity‑level and religious holidays, misclassifying workers as contractors to avoid holiday pay, and failing to document consent and compensation when employees work on holidays. Keeping accurate time records, payslips, and written schedules is essential if you want to demonstrate compliance during an inspection.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in Bosnia & Herzegovina do not usually change the basic weekly or daily overtime thresholds, but any hours worked on a public holiday are typically treated as both overtime (if they exceed normal hours) and holiday work, which attracts a higher premium. In many collective agreements, work on a public holiday is paid at a higher rate than standard overtime, so your payroll team needs to apply the correct multiplier.

For employees who do not work on the holiday, the day is counted as paid leave and does not reduce their normal weekly working time. For shift workers and essential services, entity laws and collective agreements often set specific rules on scheduling, minimum rest periods, and premium rates for holiday shifts. To stay compliant, you should clearly define in contracts and policies how holiday work is authorised, how premiums are calculated, and whether employees can choose between extra pay and a compensatory day off where the law allows.

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