Official holidays in Guatemala are listed in Article 127 of the Labor Code: Jan 1, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, May 1, June 30, Sep 15, Oct 20, Nov 1, Dec 25 and the local patron-saint feast day. Working on a holiday is paid at double the ordinary salary. Asuetos (May 10 Mother's Day, June 17 Father's Day) are by Government Accord and apply by gender.
Difference between holiday, asueto and guild day
| Type | Legal source | Scope | Pay when worked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday | Article 127 Labor Code | Entire country, fixed dates | Double salary |
| Asueto | Government Accord | Variable, per accord | Per accord terms |
| Guild day | Sectoral accord or custom | Only that guild | Ordinary salary |
Interactive calendar
Legal framework of non-working days
Official holidays: Article 127 of the Labor Code
The Decree 1441 (Labor Code), in its Article 127, lists the national mandatory rest days for every worker in subordinate employment. These are the official holidays:
- January 1 — New Year
- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday (the latter does not appear in text but by custom is observed)
- May 1 — Labor Day
- June 30 — Army Day and Anniversary of the 1871 Revolution
- September 15 — Independence Day
- October 20 — 1944 Revolution Day
- November 1 — All Saints' Day
- December 25 — Christmas
- The day of the local patron-saint feast
These holidays are paid: the worker with fixed salary receives their usual salary even if they do not work.
Asuetos by Government Accord
The Executive can declare additional asuetos by Government Accord, especially for commemorative dates or administrative reasons. The most recurrent are:
- May 10 (Mother's Day): only for women workers, under the Government Accord of May 2, 1971.
- June 17 (Father's Day): only for male workers, under the Government Accord of June 23, 1999.
- December 24 and 31 afternoons: by custom and sometimes by annual government accord.
- Holy Saturday: by national custom, although it does not appear textually in Article 127.
Guild days
Some guilds or sectors have their own commemorative day:
- June 25 — Teacher's Day: asueto only for teaching and administrative staff of educational institutions.
- July 27 — Commerce Employee Day: asueto only for employees of commercial establishments.
How working on a holiday is paid
Article 126 establishes the weekly rest, and Article 127 equates holidays to the weekly rest. When a worker works on a holiday:
- Worker with fixed monthly salary: receives their usual salary for the day (which would be paid even if they did not work) plus double the ordinary salary for each day worked on the holiday.
- Worker by hour or task: the regime depends on the contract and the specific provision for their modality.
- Accumulation with overtime: if besides working on a holiday the day's normal hours are exceeded, the 50% overtime surcharge accumulates.
Practical example: A worker with daily salary of Q200 who works on May 1 (holiday) receives: Q200 (usual day salary) + Q400 (double for working on the holiday) = Q600. If they also work 2 overtime hours that day, the corresponding surcharge is added.
Frequent errors that generate fines and claims
- Confusing holidays with asuetos: Mother's Day is not a national holiday — pretending a man should take it as paid rest is giving away a day. Pretending a woman should not take it is violating her rights.
- Not paying double for working on a holiday: leads to labor lawsuits and MINTRAB fines.
- Moving holidays to Monday without a government accord: the Labor Code does not provide automatic transfer. If a holiday falls on Sunday, it is not moved to Monday unless an express government accord is issued.
- Treating Holy Saturday as a mandatory holiday: it is not in Article 127. If you want to give it as rest, it must be in internal policy or contract.
- Not considering the local patron-saint feast: Article 127 includes "the main feast day of the place" — this can be the municipal patron-saint feast, which should be confirmed with the municipality.
- Forgetting to record hours worked on a holiday: without record, in court it is assumed in favor of the worker.
Recommendations for employers
- Publish at the start of the year the internal labor calendar with all non-working days — clarity prevents claims.
- Have a written policy on Holy Saturday and eves (December 24 and 31).
- Pay hours worked on holidays in the same biweekly period in which they were generated, identifying them in the pay slip.
- If operating on holidays is required (tourism, health, essential commerce), plan staff rotation and double pay from the budget.
- Review the main feast of the municipality where the company operates — some municipalities have multi-day patron-saint feasts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a holiday and an asueto in Guatemala?
A holiday is a mandatory rest day established by law (Article 127 Labor Code) — fixed dates that apply to the entire country. An asueto is declared by Government Accord, may vary year to year and sometimes applies only to certain groups. Working on a holiday is always paid double; an asueto may have different effects per accord.
How is working on a holiday paid?
Double the ordinary salary, added to the usual day pay (which is paid anyway since it is a paid holiday). Framework: Articles 126–127.
Are holidays paid even if not worked?
Yes. Official holidays are paid rest days: the worker with fixed salary receives their usual salary even if they do not work. For modalities by hour or task, it depends on the contract.
Is Mother's Day a holiday for all women?
It is not an official holiday. It is a paid asueto only for women workers under the 1971 Government Accord. If it falls on Sunday (as in 2026), it depends on that year's accord whether it is moved or not.
What happens when a holiday falls on Sunday?
There is no automatic transfer. The holiday is observed on its calendar day. If it coincides with the weekly rest, it does not generate an additional compensatory day, unless agreed or specific government accord.
Is the entire Holy Week a holiday?
Only Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are Article 127 holidays. Holy Saturday is observed by custom — it is not a legal holiday unless the employer establishes it by internal policy.
Are the eves (December 24 and 31) holidays?
December 25 and January 1 are. The eves are not legal holidays although by commercial custom many companies work half day. Some administrations declare an afternoon asueto by government accord that year.