In short: Panama has 13 national holidays and days of mourning a year, set by the Labour Code and special laws. When one falls on a Sunday it moves to the following Monday. Working on a holiday is paid with a 150% surcharge. This page calculates the next holiday and shows the full calendar for the current year.
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National holiday calendar
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Carnival Tuesday and Good Friday change every year with the date of Easter. 1 July is a holiday only every five years, when the President of the Republic takes office (next: 2029).
Rules worth knowing
- Move to Monday: if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the day off moves to the following Monday. If it falls on a Saturday it does not move.
- Surcharge for working on a holiday: 150% on the day’s wage, plus a compensatory day where applicable.
- Civic days: 4 November (Flag Day) and 20 December (National Day of Mourning) are treated as mandatory rest days in labour and banking practice.
- Banks and public offices: close on every national holiday. Shopping centres usually open except on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Key fact: November has five holidays (3, 4, 5, 10 and 28), which cuts the month to around 16 business days. It is the month that most affects legal deadlines and procedures.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carnival a full holiday?
Only Carnival Tuesday is a national holiday. The Monday is usually declared a day off by decree for public employees, but it is not mandatory for private companies.
How is a holiday paid when no work is done?
The employee receives their normal wage. The holiday is neither deducted nor made up.
What happens to legal deadlines that expire on a holiday?
Judicial and administrative deadlines that expire on a holiday are extended to the next business day.
Related articles
Sources
- Labour Code of Panama, articles 46 to 49 (national holidays and days of mourning, surcharges)
- Law 55 of 2001 (Flag Day) and Law 259 of 2022 (20 December, National Day of Mourning)
- Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development (MITRADEL)