In recent years, according to an increasing number of studies, free time and flexibility have become two increasingly important aspects for Romanian employees, with any opportunity to spend more time with family and friends being highly appreciated by them, and employers need to be aware of this.

In addition to the weekly rest and annual vacation, the Romanian Labor Code establishes a specific number of public holidays that employers must grant to their employees, a number that has been increasing over the past few years.

Thus, in 2024, the number of public holidays will rise from 15 days in 2023 to 17 days, following President Klaus Iohannis’s promulgation of the law in March this year, which designates January 6 (Epiphany) and January 7 (Saint John) as legal holidays on which work is not conducted.

Public Holidays in 2024:

– January 1 – New Year’s Day
– January 2 – Second Day of New Year
– January 6 – Epiphany
– January 7 – Saint John the Baptist
– January 24 – Day of the Union of Romanian Principalities
– May 1 – Labor Day
– May 3 – “The Big” Friday
– May 5 – First Day of Orthodox Easter 2024
– May 6 – Second Day of Orthodox Easter 2024
– June 1 – Children’s Day
– June 23 – Pentecost
– June 24 – Second Day of Pentecost
– August 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
– November 30 – Saint Andrew
– December 1 – National Day of Romania
– December 25 – First Day of Christmas
– December 26 – Second Day of Christmas

Although next year we theoretically have a greater number of legal holidays than in 2023, the total number of days off granted to employees will actually be lower than in 2023. This is because, out of the 17 legal holidays in 2024, only 10 will fall on weekdays, while the rest will fall on weekends.

Legal Holidays Falling on Weekdays in 2024:

January:
– January 1 – New Year’s Day – Monday
– January 2 – Second Day after New Year – Tuesday
– January 24 – Day of the Union of Romanian Principalities – Wednesday

May:
– May 1 – Labor Day – Wednesday
– May 3 – “The Big” Friday – Friday
– May 6 – Second Day of Orthodox Easter – Monday

June:
– June 24 – Second Day of Pentecost – Monday

August:
– August 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Thursday

December:
– December 25 – Christmas – Wednesday
– December 26 – Second Day of Christmas – Thursday

Legal Holidays Falling on Weekends in 2024:

January:
– January 6 – Epiphany – Saturday
– January 7 – Saint John – Sunday

May:
– May 5 – Orthodox Easter – Sunday (noting that the first day of Easter only falls on Sunday)

June:
– June 1 – Children’s Day – Saturday
– June 23 – Pentecost – Sunday

November:
– November 30 – Saint Andrew – Saturday

December:
– December 1 – Great Union Day – Sunday

According to the Labor Code, if days off are not granted for justified reasons, employees are entitled to a bonus on their basic salary for work performed on legal holidays, which cannot be less than 100% of the basic salary corresponding to work performed during normal working hours.

Additionally, in workplaces where activity cannot be interrupted due to the nature of the production process or the specifics of the activity, employees must be compensated with equivalent time off within the following 30 days.