HR Regulations: Latest Statutory Holiday Policy and 2025 Statutory Holiday Arrangement Notice

Notice from the General Office of the State Council on the 2025 Holiday Arrangements

To the People's Governments of all Provinces, Autonomous Regions, and Municipalities Directly Under the Central Government; all Ministries and Commissions of the State Council; and all Institutions Directly Under the State Council:

With the approval of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, and in accordance with the revised National Annual Holidays and Memorial Days Leave Regulation (amended in November 2024), starting from January 1, 2025, two additional public holidays will be introduced, increasing the total number of public holidays for all citizens. Specifically, the Spring Festival and International Labor Day will each gain one additional day off. Consequently, the principles for holiday adjustments and leave have been further optimized. Except for certain special circumstances:

• The Spring Festival holiday will extend to 8 days, starting from Lunar New Year's Eve.

• The National Day holiday will last for 7 days, starting from October 1.

• International Labor Day will comprise 5 days.

• New Year's Day, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival will each allow 3 days of leave (if the holiday falls on a Wednesday, only that day will be observed as a holiday).

• If the National Day coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the holidays will be combined into an 8-day break.

Based on these principles, the specific arrangements for public holidays and adjusted working days in 2025 are as follows:

1. New Year's Day

• January 1 (Wednesday): One day off, no adjustment of workdays.

2. Spring Festival

• January 28 (Tuesday, Lunar New Year's Eve) to February 4 (Tuesday, Lunar New Year's Seventh Day): 8 days of holiday and leave adjustment.

• Working days: January 26 (Sunday) and February 8 (Saturday).

3. Tomb-Sweeping Day

• April 4 (Friday) to April 6 (Sunday): 3 days off.

4. International Labor Day

• May 1 (Thursday) to May 5 (Monday): 5 days of holiday and leave adjustment.

• Working day: April 27 (Sunday).

5. Dragon Boat Festival

• May 31 (Saturday) to June 2 (Monday): 3 days off.

6. National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival

• October 1 (Wednesday) to October 8 (Wednesday): 8 days of holiday and leave adjustment.

• Working days: September 28 (Sunday) and October 11 (Saturday).

Work Arrangements During Holidays

During the holidays, all regions and departments must ensure proper arrangements for duty schedules, safety, security, and pandemic prevention and control. In the event of major emergencies, reports must be submitted promptly, and appropriate measures should be taken to address them. Efforts must be made to ensure a safe and peaceful holiday period for the public.

General Office of the State Council
November 12, 2024

Summary of Key Points

• Public Holidays Extended: The number of statutory public holidays has increased from 11 to 13 days, adding 2 extra days of paid leave. Employees required to work during these holidays must be compensated at 300% of their daily wages.

• Calculation Unaffected: The standard calculation of 21.75 working days per month remains unchanged.

• Impact on Annual Workdays: The number of annual workdays will decrease from 250 days, and monthly workdays (20.83) will also reduce accordingly. Adjustments will be required for contexts such as comprehensive working hours or medical leave calculations in Shanghai.

• Reduction of Long Work Streaks: The adjustments will significantly reduce or even eliminate the occurrence of continuous 7-day work periods due to prior holiday arrangements.