Canadian employees get fewer public holidays than those in India and Colombia but more than a number of European countries.
According to data from Mercer’s Worldwide Benefit and Employment Guidelines, Canada provides the greatest number of public holidays (11) in North America, although this varies by province. The United States government provides 10 federal public holidays. However, private employers are not obligated to allow their employees to take these days off. Mexico provides just seven public holidays.
In South America, Colombia has the most generous number of public holidays (18), while Argentina and Chile have 15 public holidays with Brazil offering 12.
Employees in India also have the highest public holiday provision worldwide (18). Australia and New Zealand both dictate fewer public holidays than the region’s average with nine and 11, respectively. Thailand and South Korea offer 16 public holidays followed by Japan (15) and Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines (14). Pakistan (13) is followed by Hong Kong and Taiwan (12). Vietnam (10) has the lowest number of public holidays in the region below both China and Singapore (11).
Finland has the most generous provision of public holidays (15) in Europe, followed by Spain (14), whereas Hungary, the U.K. and the Netherlands have the fewest (eight).
Austria has 12 public holidays, while Sweden, Italy, France and Denmark all provide employees with 11 public holidays. Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway and Portugal all have 10. Germany typically celebrates nine public holidays, but this varies between states so some employees can receive up to 13. Interestingly, the report notes that Norway and Sweden do not count Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as public holidays, even though these are treated as such by employers.
In Central and Eastern Europe, the Turkish government mandates the greatest number of public holidays (14.5), followed by Russia (14) and Slovakia (13). The Czech Republic and Lithuania both have 12 public holidays followed by Croatia (11), Poland and Ukraine (10) and Serbia and Romania (nine).
Within the Middle East and Africa, United Arab Emirates is the least generous country with nine public holidays. Conversely, Morocco has a much higher allowance with 14.
“Countries want to attract investment by showing they have a productive and available workforce,” says Ed Hannibal, global leader of Mercer’s mobility practice. “Additionally, Portugal has taken the drastic measure of suspending four of the country’s 14 public holidays in a bid to increase productivity and send a message to possible investors.”
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