Public Holidays & Sunday Pay Rules in South Africa
The public holidays and Sunday pay rules South Africa’s BCEA sets (sections 16 and 18) trip up even experienced payroll administrators — especially in retail, hospitality, security and care work where Sundays and holidays are normal trading days. This guide lays out the full holiday list, the premium calculations with worked examples, and the agreement requirements that make holiday rosters lawful.
- ✔12 public holidays a year; a Sunday holiday rolls to the Monday.
- ✔Not working a public holiday that falls on a workday = normal pay anyway.
- ✔Working a public holiday = double pay or normal pay plus a paid day off.
- ✔Sunday work (outside ordinary hours) = 2× pay or time off; if Sunday is an ordinary workday for the employee, 1.5×.
- ✔Work on a public holiday requires agreement — you may not simply roster it.
The 12 South African public holidays
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| 21 March | Human Rights Day |
| March/April (movable) | Good Friday |
| March/April (movable) | Family Day (Easter Monday) |
| 27 April | Freedom Day |
| 1 May | Workers’ Day |
| 16 June | Youth Day |
| 9 August | National Women’s Day |
| 24 September | Heritage Day |
| 16 December | Day of Reconciliation |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Day of Goodwill |
The Sunday rule: whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is the public holiday. An election day is occasionally declared an additional public holiday by proclamation — watch the compliance calendar.
Pay when the employee does NOT work the holiday
If a public holiday falls on a day the employee would ordinarily work and they do not work it, you must still pay their normal wage for that day. The holiday is a paid day off by law — docking it is an unlawful deduction.
If the holiday falls on a day the employee would not ordinarily work (say a Saturday for a Monday–Friday employee), there is no payment implication at all — the day was never a paid workday for them.
Pay when the employee DOES work the holiday
Work on a public holiday happens only by agreement — you cannot unilaterally roster it unless the contract or a collective agreement provides for holiday work. When the employee works, the BCEA gives you two options:
- Double pay: pay at least double the normal wage for the day (or for the hours worked, if they work part of the day), or
- Normal pay plus a paid day off: the normal wage for the holiday worked, plus another paid day off by agreement.
A retail employee earning R240/day (8 hours at R30/hour) works Workers’ Day: double-pay option = R480 for the day; or normal R240 plus a paid day off to take later. Whichever option you use, put it in writing and reflect it on the payslip.
Sunday pay: the two different premiums
Sunday is not ordinarily worked: any Sunday work pays double the normal hourly wage (or, by agreement, normal pay plus paid time off). Sunday IS part of the ordinary week (common in retail and hospitality): the premium is 1.5 times for the Sunday hours.
The contract determines which category an employee is in — one more reason the written particulars must state ordinary days and hours accurately. If a Monday–Friday employee regularly works Sundays, their ‘ordinary’ pattern can shift over time; review contracts annually against actual rosters.
Administration for holiday-heavy businesses
- ✓State ordinary working days in every contract (this fixes which premium applies)
- ✓Get holiday-work agreements in writing before the roster goes out
- ✓Reflect holiday and Sunday premiums as separate payslip lines
- ✓Track paid days off granted in lieu of double pay
- ✓Recheck rosters against the holiday calendar every year — movable Easter dates catch payroll out
- ✓Remember the BCEA earnings-threshold exemption does not apply to public-holiday pay — these rules cover everyone
- BCEA — sections 16 & 18: public holidays and Sunday work
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994
- Labour Guide — BCEA summary (secondary)
Always confirm current requirements with the official source — rules and deadlines change.
- ✔Monthly PAYE/UIF/SDL calculations & EMP201 filing
- ✔Payslips and payroll records handled
- ✔Request a quote for your team size
Frequently asked questions
Do employees get paid for a public holiday they don't work?
Yes, if the holiday falls on a day they would ordinarily work — they receive their normal day's wage without working. If it falls on a non-working day for them (like a Saturday for office staff), no payment is due.
What is the pay rate for working on a public holiday in South Africa?
Either double the normal wage for the day, or the normal wage plus a paid day off by agreement. If the employee works only part of the day, the double rate applies to the hours worked. Work on a public holiday requires the employee's agreement.
Is Sunday automatically double pay?
Only if Sunday is not part of the employee's ordinary working week. If the employee ordinarily works Sundays (their contract says so), the premium is 1.5 times the normal rate for Sunday hours instead of double.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
The following Monday becomes the public holiday. So if Christmas Day (25 December) falls on a Sunday, Monday 26 December and Tuesday 27 December are both holidays — Christmas observed and Day of Goodwill.
Can I make employees work public holidays in a shop or restaurant?
Only by agreement — either in the employment contract (stating holiday work is required) or case by case. Retail and hospitality contracts should cover this from day one; without an agreement, an employee may lawfully refuse holiday work.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · How we research our guides
EmployerGuide.online provides general information about South African employer obligations — not legal, tax or professional advice for your specific situation. Laws, rates and deadlines change; confirm current requirements with the official sources linked above, or ask Admin Boss. See our disclaimer.