Working Days – Italy
In Italy, there are 12 nationally recognized public holidays per year, which primarily coincide with religious and civil observances. From a payroll and attendance perspective, public holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are not recovered or rescheduled. HR professionals must also account for local patron saint festivals, which vary from city to city.
Annual summary
| Other year | Working days | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 251 | |
| 2026 | 254 | |
| 2027 | 254 | |
| 2028 | 249 |
Need to calculate business days between two specific dates? Italy business days calculator
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a public holiday falls on a Sunday? Is the day recovered?
No, Italy does not have a system for substituting or recovering public holidays. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, an additional working day is not recognized or compensated. The employee simply loses the benefit of that weekday holiday.
Are patron saint festivals mandatory for all employees?
Patron saint festivals are official public holidays exclusively in the relevant municipality or city, not at the national level. For example, the feast of Saint John the Baptist is a local holiday in Florence and Turin, but not elsewhere. Employers must verify the applicable provisions at their company's operational location.
How is remuneration for public holidays calculated on the payslip?
National collective labor agreements (CCNL) govern how remuneration for non-working public holidays is calculated. Generally speaking, an employee is entitled to their normal daily remuneration even if they do not work on a public holiday. If an employee works on a public holiday, they are entitled to a salary increase according to the provisions of the applicable CCNL.
Does Ferragosto significantly impact attendance planning? How should it be managed?
August 15, Ferragosto, is one of the most widely observed public holidays in Italy and the entire Ferragosto week often sees a significant operational decline, with many companies closing for collective leave. From an administrative perspective, only August 15 is a statutory holiday; the days before and after must be covered by contractual vacation or company agreements. It is best practice to plan collective closures in advance and communicate them to employees with adequate notice.
Which public holidays have the greatest impact on HR planning during the Christmas period?
During the Christmas period, two consecutive public holidays occur: December 25 (Christmas) and December 26 (Saint Stephen's Day), plus company closures on December 31 and January 1 (New Year's Day). Many CCNLs also provide for bridge days or collective closures between these dates, to be managed through vacation or paid leave. The HR office must verify contractual provisions in advance to avoid discrepancies in the count of working days.