Background
On 28 May 2025, Taiwan's Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例) came into effect, representing a significant expansion of the national public holiday framework. The Act establishes what is known as the "4+1" formula for new national holidays - four completely new public holidays plus the extension of Labor Day to all workers regardless of employment sector. While Labor Day was previously recognized under the Labor Standards Act (LSA) for private sector employees only, the new legislation extends this holiday to all workers, including teachers and government officials. The act creates a unified approach to public holidays across all employment sectors, establishing consistency in holiday entitlements throughout Taiwan's workforce.
Key takeaways
New public holidays established
Under this new legislation, five additional public holidays have been added to the national holiday schedule, including:
- The day before Lunar New Year's Eve (exact date varies based on the lunar calendar)
- 1 May - Labor Day (which originally applied to employees in the private sector only but now applies to all workers including teachers and government officials)
- 28 September - Confucius' Birthday
- 25 October - Taiwan Retrocession Day
- 25 December - Constitution Day
Practical implementation for 2025
Since Labor Day has already been recognized for private sector employees under LSA, only four holidays represent truly new additions in practice. For the remainder of 2025, three new public holidays will take effect:
- Monday, 28 September 2025 - In lieu of Confucius' Birthday (September 28 falls on Sunday)
- Friday, 24 October 2025 - In lieu of Taiwan Retrocession Day (October 25 falls on Saturday)
- 25 December 2025 - Constitution Day
Recommendations
We recommend that employers acknowledge these changes and update their internal policies to reflect the revised public holiday schedule. This may include updates to internal regulations as well as adjustments to leave management systems and portals to ensure full compliance with the new legal requirements.
