Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the Recommendation to Employers to Allow Employees to Take Leave on Christmas Eve
On December 20, 2024, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, upon the proposal of the General Secretariat of the Government, adopted a Conclusion published in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia,” No. 101/2024, dated December 20, 2024.
Employers in Serbia are recommended to allow the following employees to take leave on Christmas Eve:
- Catholics and members of Christian religious communities celebrating holidays according to the Gregorian calendar on December 24, 2024.
- Orthodox Christians celebrating holidays according to the Julian calendar on January 6, 2025.
Employers are further advised to ensure that employees who, due to the nature of their work, must work on these days are granted the rights applicable to working on a public holiday that is otherwise a non-working day.
Does this Conclusion impose an obligation on employers?
- Employers are not legally obligated to allow employees to take leave on Christmas Eve.
- There are no legal penalties for employers who decide that employees should work on Christmas Eve.
- If an employee wishes to take leave on Christmas Eve, this may be deducted from their annual leave, as Christmas Eve is not legally recognized as a non-working day.
- Employers are not obligated to pay increased wages for work on Christmas Eve, as this day is not legally defined as a non-working holiday.
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