In brief: Morocco observes 13 to 15 public holidays per year, including 10 fixed civil holidays and variable religious holidays. May 1st is the only compulsorily paid non-working day. Employees working on holidays receive a 100% wage supplement.
With over 15 years of experience managing payroll and HR compliance across sectors, Upsilon Consulting’s chartered accountants provide authoritative guidance on public holiday rules and their payroll impact.
Public holidays in Morocco are an essential part of Moroccan labor law and a key consideration when planning business creation in Morocco. They are divided into nine national civic holidays (including the international holidays of January 1st and May 1st) and four religious holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Al-Mawlid, and the Hijri New Year). Recently, the Amazigh New Year has also been declared a public holiday (January 14th each year).
In total, Morocco observes approximately 13 fixed public holidays and several variable religious holidays, making it one of the countries with the most non-working days in the MENA region.
You can download the decree governing public holidays in Morocco here.
List of Civil Public Holidays in Morocco
Civil holidays fall on the same dates every year in the Gregorian calendar. They commemorate major historical events or celebrate national values.
- January 1st — New Year’s Day
- January 11th — Commemoration of the Presentation of the Independence Manifesto
- January 14th — Amazigh New Year (Yennayer)
- May 1st — Labor Day
- July 30th — Throne Day
- August 14th — Oued Ed-Dahab Day
- August 20th — Commemoration of the Revolution of the King and the People
- August 21st — Youth Day
- November 6th — Green March Day
- November 18th — Independence Day
Religious Public Holidays in Morocco (Variable Dates)
Religious holidays follow the Hijri (lunar) calendar, meaning their Gregorian dates shift each year. Since the Hijri year is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, religious holidays move earlier each year in the civil calendar. The dates below are estimates for 2026; exact dates are confirmed by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs based on the observation of the crescent moon.
- Eid al-Fitr (1st Shawwal): in 2026 around March 20th (2 public holidays)
- Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah): in 2026 around May 26th (2 public holidays)
- 1st Muharram (Hijri New Year): in 2026 around June 18th
- Eid Al-Mawlid Annabawi (12th Rabi al-Awwal): in 2026 around August 24th
It is worth noting that both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha span two consecutive public holidays each, bringing the total number of religious holiday days to six per year.
Public Holiday vs. Non-Working Day: Understanding the Difference
A common source of confusion is the distinction between a public holiday (jour férié) and a non-working day (jour chômé). In Morocco, a public holiday is a day legally recognized as non-working under an official decree. A non-working day, on the other hand, refers to any day when business activity is effectively suspended, which can include weekends (Saturday and Sunday in the private sector).
Not all public holidays are necessarily non-working and paid. The distinction is outlined in Articles 217 to 230 of the Moroccan Labor Code. May 1st (Labor Day) is the only public holiday that is compulsorily non-working and paid for all employees, without exception.
For other public holidays, employers may choose to maintain operations, provided they comply with the compensation rules established by law. This nuance is particularly important for businesses operating in continuous-activity sectors.
How Public Holidays Affect Payroll in Morocco
Managing public holidays in Morocco has a direct impact on salary calculations. Here are the key rules that every HR department and accounting firm should master.
Pay for Non-Working Public Holidays
When a public holiday is observed as a non-working day, monthly-paid employees continue to receive their regular salary with no deductions. For hourly or daily-paid employees, the non-working holiday is compensated by an allowance equal to the pay they would have earned had they worked that day, provided they can demonstrate at least 26 days of actual work during the preceding four weeks.
Compensation for Working on a Public Holiday
If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, the Labor Code provides for specific compensation. The employer must pay, in addition to the regular salary, a supplementary allowance of 100% of the daily wage. The employee may also receive compensatory rest of equal duration, by agreement with the employer.
This 100% premium is a legal minimum. Certain collective agreements or company-level agreements may provide for more favorable rates.
Public Holiday Falling on a Weekend
Unlike the practice in some European countries, Moroccan law does not provide for the automatic postponement of a public holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Employees are therefore not entitled to an additional compensatory rest day, unless otherwise stipulated in their collective agreement or employment contract.
Public Holidays for the Moroccan Jewish Community
Moroccan citizens of Jewish faith working in the public sector benefit from additional public holidays on the occasions of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover. This provision reflects Morocco’s tradition of religious tolerance and the constitutional recognition of the Hebraic component of the national identity.
Penalties for Violating Public Holiday Rules
Moroccan law, which also defines the criminal liability of directors, prohibits employers from requiring employees to work during paid holidays and public holidays, except by express agreement between the parties. Violations carry a fine of 300 to 500 dirhams per employee, not exceeding 20,000 dirhams in total. In cases of repeat offenses, these fines may be doubled.
Labor inspectors are authorized to identify such violations and issue official reports. It is therefore essential for companies to maintain accurate records of days worked and compensation provided.
Public Holidays and Business Obligations in Morocco
For companies operating in Morocco, proper management of public holidays is both a legal and operational concern. Here are the main obligations to observe:
- Mandatory posting: the list of public holidays must be displayed on company premises.
- Payroll planning: pay slips must accurately reflect non-working public holidays and any applicable premiums.
- Deadline management: public holidays can affect administrative, tax, and legal deadlines. A filing or payment due on a public holiday is generally postponed to the next business day.
- Continuous-activity sectors: certain industries (hospitality, healthcare, security, transport) may be exempt from the prohibition on working during public holidays, provided they comply with the compensation requirements set by law.
Comparison with International Standards
With approximately 13 to 15 public holidays per year (depending on the year), Morocco ranks above the global average of roughly 11 days. By comparison, France has 11 public holidays, Spain has 14, and the United States observes 11 at the federal level.
This relatively generous number of non-working days is an important factor to consider when planning business creation in Morocco, particularly for calculating the number of annual working days and for human resources planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Morocco observe per year?
Morocco observes approximately 13 to 15 public holidays per year, including ten fixed civil holidays and several variable religious holidays based on the Hijri lunar calendar. Both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha each span two consecutive days, bringing the total number of religious holiday days to six.
Is an employee entitled to additional pay for working on a public holiday in Morocco?
Yes, if an employee works on a public holiday, the employer must pay a supplementary allowance of 100% of the daily wage in addition to the regular salary. The employee may also receive compensatory rest of equal duration by agreement with the employer.
Does a public holiday falling on a weekend carry over to the next working day?
Under Moroccan labour law, there is no general legal obligation for employers to carry over a public holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday to the following Monday. The holiday is simply absorbed by the weekend, and employees do not automatically receive a substitute day off. However, some companies may grant compensatory rest through internal policy, collective bargaining agreements, or individual employment contracts.
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