Public holidays

France recognizes eleven statutory public holidays under the Labour Code (Code du Travail). These designated days are: New Year's Day (January 1st), Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1st), Victory Day (May 8th), Ascension Day (39 days after Easter), Whit Monday (50 days after Easter), Bastille Day or National Day (July 14th), Assumption of Mary (August 15th), All Saints' Day (November 1st), Armistice Day (November 11th), and Christmas Day (December 25th).

The legal framework governing public holidays in France is established in Chapter III of the Labour Code, specifically Articles L3133-1 to L3133-12, as codified in the official legislative database Légifrance. These provisions define which days are recognized as jours fériés and establish the rights and obligations of employers and employees on these dates.

When a public holiday falls on a working day, employees are entitled to a paid day off. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they must receive either additional compensation or compensatory time off, depending on the employment contract and collective bargaining agreement applicable to their sector. The specific terms for remuneration or time off are often negotiated at industry or company level, though statutory minimums apply.

Payroll teams must ensure that public holidays are correctly identified in their systems, particularly the moveable holidays (Easter Monday, Ascension, and Whit Monday), which change annually based on the Easter calendar. Proper classification of these days is essential for accurate wage calculations, leave tracking, and compliance with French labour law requirements.