Global Compliance Desk – China
China’s Official Public Holiday Schedule for 2019
China’s General Office of the State Council released the country’s official holiday schedule for 2019 through its “Circular about Public Holiday Arrangement” on December 6, 2018. As is traditional, the holiday schedule features two major week-long holidays: the Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year) and National Day. In 2019, the Spring Festival falls between February 4 and 10, and the National Day holiday between October 1 and 7.
Organizations should note that Saturdays and Sundays are often marked as additional official working days in China to offset long vacation breaks. Foreign human resource managers should note that Saturdays and Sundays are often marked as additional official work days in China to compensate for long holiday breaks. For example, in 2019, Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3 will be official working days designated to partially offset the Spring Festival’s seven days off. However, private companies in China have the right to determine their own schedules–which allow additional days off–while maintaining the official holiday calendar.
New Year
December 30, 2018 – January 1, 2019 (3 days in total; Sunday to Tuesday)
Adjusted Working Day: December 29, 2018 (Saturday)
Spring Festival
February 4 – 10, 2019 (7 days in total; Monday to Sunday)
Adjusted Working Days: February 2 and 3, 2019 (Saturday and Sunday)
Tomb Sweeping Day
April 5 – 7, 2019 (3 days in total; Friday to Sunday)
Labor Day
May 1, 2019 (Wednesday)
Dragon Boat Festival
June 7 – 9, 2019 (3 days in total; Friday to Sunday)
Mid-Autumn Festival
September 13 – 15, 2019 (3 days in total; Friday to Sunday)
National Day
October 1 – 7, 2019 (7 days in total; Tuesday to Monday)
Adjusted Working Days: Sunday, September 29 and Saturday, October.
