What Are The Public Holidays in Fiji in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Fiji (2026)

Fiji’s public holidays combine fixed national dates with religious festivals that are confirmed each year by government gazette. The dates below reflect the standard calendar for 2026, but you should always verify final dates and any additional observed days announced by the Fijian government.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Fijian employment law, public holidays are generally treated as paid days off for employees who would normally work on that day, provided they have completed the minimum qualifying period set out in their employment contract or the applicable law. If a public holiday falls on a day an employee would not usually work, there is typically no additional paid day off unless an observed day is officially declared by the government.

When an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are usually entitled to premium pay on top of their normal wages, or a combination of premium pay and a substitute day off, depending on the terms of the contract, any collective agreement, and statutory rules. Part‑time and shift workers are generally entitled to public holiday benefits on a pro‑rata basis if the holiday falls on a day they are scheduled to work.

Public holidays in Fiji are national rather than regional, so they apply across the country, although some religious holidays may be more relevant to particular communities. Because the government can declare additional or substitute public holidays by gazette, your company should monitor official announcements each year to confirm which days must be treated as paid public holidays.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

If your company fails to provide the correct public holiday pay or time off, you risk non‑compliance with Fiji’s employment legislation. The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations is responsible for enforcing labour standards and can investigate complaints from employees or trade unions.

Penalties can include orders to repay underpaid wages, including public holiday premiums, and in some cases fines or prosecution for repeated or serious breaches. Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as normal working days without premium pay, misclassifying employees as contractors to avoid holiday obligations, or failing to recognise an officially declared observed day when a holiday falls on a weekend.

To reduce risk, you should keep clear records of work schedules, public holiday dates, pay calculations, and any substitute days off granted. Written policies that align with Fijian law and are communicated to all staff make it easier to demonstrate compliance if an inspection or dispute arises.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in Fiji interact with overtime rules by changing how hours are classified and paid. Hours worked on a public holiday are typically paid at a higher premium rate than ordinary overtime, reflecting the special status of the day. If an employee works beyond their normal daily or weekly hours on a public holiday, those hours may attract both public holiday premium pay and overtime, depending on the statute and the employment agreement.

For employees who do not work on the holiday, the day is usually treated as a paid day off and does not count as hours worked for overtime threshold purposes. For those who do work, you should track their hours separately for the public holiday and for the rest of the week so you can correctly apply overtime and premium rates. Because specific multipliers and thresholds can change through legislative updates or collective bargaining, it is safest to confirm current rates with local legal counsel or an in‑country payroll specialist.

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