Egypt Announces Six-Day Paid Eid al-Adha Holiday for Private Sector Employees

Egypt’s Ministry of Labor announced Thursday that employees covered under the country’s new Labor Law will receive a six-day paid holiday for Eid al-Adha, extending from Tuesday, May 26, through Sunday, May 31.

Labor Minister Hassan Raddad said the decision comes in implementation of the labor law, and follows a cabinet resolution, concerning official paid leave for workers across state institutions and public-sector entities.

The ministry stated that the holiday applies to employees governed by the labor law framework, while examinations scheduled during the same period will continue according to timetables determined by the relevant authorities.

In an official statement, the minister emphasized the government’s ongoing effort to unify official holiday schedules across Egypt’s various employment sectors whenever possible, describing the move as part of a broader social and national objective tied to religious and public occasions.

The announcement also clarified compensation rules for employees required to work during the holiday period. Under the law, workers who remain on duty are entitled to receive double pay in addition to their standard wage for those days, or may request compensatory leave in writing to be recorded in their employment file.

The Ministry of Labor further instructed regional labor directorates and central administrative departments to circulate the official directives across workplaces and production sites nationwide to ensure immediate implementation.