Public holidays

Chile observes between 15 and 16 public holidays annually, comprising religious, civil, and mandatory observances. These include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Labor Day, Navy Day, Army Day, Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Assumption Day, Meeting of Two Worlds Day, National Day of Indigenous Peoples, National Holiday, Independence Day, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas Day. The exact number varies year to year depending on how certain moveable religious holidays align with weekends and bridging provisions.

Public holidays in Chile are governed by the Labor Code (Código del Trabajo) and supplementary legislation administered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The official calendar of legal holidays is maintained and published annually by the Chilean government to ensure consistency across all regions and sectors.

Recent statutory changes have expanded the calendar to reflect greater cultural diversity. The National Day of Indigenous Peoples was formally recognized as a public holiday in 2021, reflecting Chile's commitment to acknowledging indigenous heritage alongside traditional religious and civic observances.

Employers must grant all employees paid time off on declared public holidays. When a public holiday falls on a weekend, compensation or an alternative day off is typically provided. Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to additional remuneration or compensatory leave as specified in their employment contracts and applicable labor regulations. Payroll teams must ensure accurate tracking of public holiday entitlements and proper calculation of any premium payments or time-in-lieu arrangements to maintain compliance with Chilean labor law.