As we enter a new year, which will most likely bring new challenges, the topic of legal holidays that employees will benefit from in 2023 is of interest to both employers and Romanian employees.

The earlier the number of holidays this year is known, the better companies can organize themselves so that their activities are not affected during these breaks. Additionally, employees who inform themselves now about the 2023 holidays will benefit as they can plan their vacations accordingly, thus saving their annual leave days.

In 2023, employees will be entitled to a total of 15 legal holidays. Of these, 12 will fall on weekdays and 3 on weekends. This is good news for employees considering that last year, in 2022, only 9 out of the total legal holidays fell on weekdays.

According to the Labor Code in Romania, the legal holidays on which no work is done are:

– January 1 and 2;
– January 24 – Union of the Romanian Principalities Day;
– Good Friday, the last Friday before Easter;
– The first and second day of Easter;
– May 1;
– June 1;
– The first and second day of Pentecost;
– Assumption Day;
– November 30 – St. Andrew the First-Called, the Protector of Romania;
– December 1;
– The first and second day of Christmas.

Holidays Falling on Weekdays in 2023:

From the total legal holidays, those that will fall on weekdays in 2023 are:

– New Year – January 2 (Monday);
– Union of the Romanian Principalities Day – January 24 (Tuesday);
– Good Friday – April 14 (Friday);
– The second day of Easter – April 17 (Monday);
– Labor Day – May 1 (Monday);
– Children’s Day – June 1 (Thursday);
– The second day of Pentecost – June 5 (Monday);
– Assumption Day – August 15 (Tuesday);
– St. Andrew – November 30 (Thursday);
– National Day of Romania – December 1 (Friday);
– Christmas – December 25 (Monday);
– The second day of Christmas – December 26 (Tuesday).

It should be noted that according to Article 139 of the Labor Code, for employees belonging to a different legally recognized Christian religion, the holidays for Good Friday, the first and second day of Easter, and the first and second day of Pentecost are granted based on the date these holidays are celebrated by that religion. The holidays established by the Labor Code for employees belonging to legally recognized religions other than Christianity are granted by the employer on different days than the legally established holidays or annual leave.

Three Additional Legal Holidays for Public Sector Employees in 2023

Those working in the public sector will benefit from 3 additional holidays this year, in addition to the 12, because the Government has decided that January 23 (Monday), June 2 (Friday), and August 14 (Monday) will be legal holidays to create bridges with January 24 (Union of the Romanian Principalities Day), June 1 (Children’s Day), and August 15 (Assumption Day). It should be emphasized that the days established by the Government as bridge days will need to be recovered within specific periods, respectively by February 28, June 30, and August 31, 2023.

Decision Pending on January 6 and 7 as Legal Holidays

For next year, there is a possibility that all Romanian employees may benefit from two additional holidays. These are January 6 and 7, namely Epiphany and St. John the Baptist. The draft law for amending the Labor Code regarding these two legal holidays was adopted at the beginning of December 2022 by the Senate, but it has not yet been voted on by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making body in this case.