Public holidays

Argentina observes seventeen public holidays annually, including New Year's Day, Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, May Revolution Day, Labour Day, National Sovereignty Day, Independence Day, Respect for Cultural Diversity Day, National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice, Pass to the Immortality of General Don Manuel Belgrano, Pass to the Immortality of General Don Martín Miguel de Güemes, Pass to the Immortality of General Don José de San Martín, Veterans Day and the Fallen in the Malvinas War, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas Day. These holidays are recognized under Argentine labour law and are days on which most businesses close and employees receive paid time off.

The governing framework for public holidays in Argentina is established through the Argentine Labour Code (Código de Trabajo) and supplementary national decrees issued by the Ministry of Labour. The specific list of holidays observed each year is confirmed through official government announcements and may vary slightly based on legislative updates or presidential decrees.

Argentina's public holiday calendar reflects the nation's cultural, religious, and historical heritage, incorporating both Christian observances and commemorations of significant national events and military figures. The inclusion of moveable holidays such as Carnival and Easter-related observances means the exact dates shift annually according to the lunar calendar.

Employers and payroll teams must ensure employees receive full compensation for all seventeen designated public holidays, regardless of the day of the week on which they fall. When work is performed on a public holiday, employees are typically entitled to additional compensation or compensatory time off. Payroll systems should be configured to automatically recognize these dates and apply appropriate holiday pay calculations to maintain compliance with Argentine labour regulations.