National Days and Public Holidays in El Salvador

Paid public holidays in 2027

Source: Supreme Court of Justice: Labour Code of El Salvador, paid public holidays, articles 190 to 195 (PDF, in Spanish); Diario El Mundo: which days are paid public holidays; US International Trade Administration: El Salvador Country Commercial Guide, business travel^1,2,3

Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027, so the Holy Week holidays are 25 to 27 March. Holidays are not moved when they fall on a weekend.¹

Local holidays

• San Salvador: 3 and 5 August are also paid holidays in the city of San Salvador, around the feast of its patron, the Divine Saviour of the World.
• Other towns: elsewhere, the main day of the most important local festival, by custom, is a paid holiday.

Source: Supreme Court of Justice: Labour Code of El Salvador, paid public holidays, articles 190 to 195 (PDF, in Spanish)¹

Pay and rules

• Pay: a holiday is paid at the basic wage. For monthly, fortnightly or weekly salaries, the holiday is presumed to be included in the salary (article 191).
• Working on a holiday: by agreement with the employer, the employee earns the ordinary wage plus 100% (article 192). Essential services must keep the minimum staff the employer designates (article 193).
• Holiday on a rest day: the employee receives only the basic wage; if they work, they get the 100% surcharge and a paid compensatory rest day (article 194).
• Exclusions: home workers and those paid by commission or piece rate are excluded (article 195).

Source: Supreme Court of Justice: Labour Code of El Salvador, paid public holidays, articles 190 to 195 (PDF, in Spanish)¹

This is a summary of the Labour Code, not legal advice. The Legislative Assembly sometimes adds one-off holidays by decree.²

When offices close

Government offices close for the whole of Holy Week, for the August festivities in early August and between Christmas and New Year. Many offices close from 15 December to the end of the first week of January, so plan business visits around these periods.³

National days that are not holidays

• National Pupusa Day: the second Sunday of November, set by Decree 655 of 2005 (14 November in 2027).
• Bolas de Fuego: the fireball festival of Nejapa, every 31 August.
• Day of the Ruta de las Flores: the first Sunday of October, since 2014.
• Flowers and Palms of Panchimalco: a procession in early May; see culture and traditions.

Source: Legislative Assembly: Decree 655 of 1 April 2005, the pupusa as national dish and National Pupusa Day (PDF, in Spanish); Ministry of Culture: the Bolas de Fuego of Nejapa; El Salvador Travel: the Ruta de las Flores, nature, adventure, coffee and food; Ministry of Culture: Panchimalco will hold the XLII Cultural Fair of Flowers and Palms^4,5,6,7