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 and leave rules in Tonga doesn’t have to be complex. Playroll keeps you 100% compliant by automatically tracking local holidays, observed days, and pay requirements –  so your team is paid correctly and on time, every time.

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or scaling a growing team, Playroll lets you employ talent without setting up a local entity. We handle compliant contracts, benefits, and payroll in one platform, so you can reduce compliance risk and focus on growing your business while we take care of the heavy-lifting in the background. Book a chat with our team to get started.