Kalimera (Καλημέρα)!* Let’s go to Cyprus, the relaxing cousin of the European family when it comes to public holidays.
With 15 official public holidays per year, the island proudly stands at the top of the countries’ bank holidays ranking. There are three more than France and one more than Malta or Spain.
But what does European law say? In practice, the number and nature of public holidays vary greatly from one country to another. In respect of the principle of subsidiarity, each member state sets its own calendar, with some even delegating this decision to their regions. Symbolic initiatives, such as making May 9 (Europe Day) a common public holiday, have been discussed but have not come to fruition.
In Cyprus, Orthodox Pentecost Monday (Kataklysmos), Independence Day, and March 25 (Greek national holiday) are all times when tradition takes precedence. These days are indeed paid non-working days and can lead to financial compensation or compensatory leave if the employee works on those days.
On the French side, nothing new under the sun! Among the 11 legal public holidays, only May 1 is a mandatory paid holiday (Article L3133-4 of the French Labor Code). Regarding the other public holidays, it all depends on the collective bargaining agreement and the company’s HR policy.
Whether you’re on Cypriot time or French time…
ærige guides you with precision!
*Hello !
