France observes 11 statutory public holidays (jours fériés) each year, and the Labour Code provides clear rules for how employees are paid on these days. In 2027, all 11 jours fériés apply nationally, though Alsace-Moselle has additional holidays that predate the 1905 separation of church and state.
Understanding French public holiday law is essential for employers. Unlike some countries, France has strict rules about when employees must work and what compensation they receive.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
Key Takeaways
- France has 11 statutory public holidays (jours fériés) in 2027
- 1 May (Labour Day) is the only jour férié where employees must receive paid leave
- For all other holidays, the employer can require work if the employment contract or collective agreement permits
- Alsace-Moselle observes 2 additional holidays (Good Friday and 26 December)
- If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is lost — no automatic replacement unless collective agreement provides
All 11 Jours Fériés in 2027
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An) | 1 January | Friday |
| Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) | 29 March | Monday |
| Labour Day (Fête du Travail) | 1 May | Sunday |
| Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945) | 8 May | Sunday |
| Ascension Day (Ascension) | 6 May | Thursday |
| Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) | 17 May | Monday |
| Bastille Day (Fête Nationale) | 14 July | Wednesday |
| Assumption Day (Assomption) | 15 August | Sunday |
| All Saints’ Day (Toussaint) | 1 November | Monday |
| Armistice Day (Armistice) | 11 November | Thursday |
| Christmas Day (Noël) | 25 December | Saturday |
Note: Labour Day (1 May), Victory Day (8 May), and Assumption Day (15 August) fall on Sundays in 2027. In France, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is generally lost — there is no automatic replacement day.
Alsace-Moselle: Two Additional Holidays
The departments of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle observe two additional public holidays due to historical Concordat law:
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) | 26 March | Friday |
| St. Stephen’s Day (Saint Étienne) | 26 December | Sunday |
If you have employees in Alsace-Moselle, these two additional holidays must be granted. They are treated the same as the other 11 jours fériés under French labour law.
How Jours Fériés Affect Pay
1 May: Mandatory Paid Leave
Labour Day is the only jour férié where employees are automatically entitled to a paid day off, regardless of their contract or collective agreement. If an employee works on 1 May, they must receive:
- Double pay for hours worked, OR
- A compensatory paid day off in addition to the holiday pay
All Other Jours Fériés
For the other 10 jours fériés, the rules depend on the employment contract and collective agreement:
- If the collective agreement or contract provides for a paid holiday on the jour férié, the employee is entitled to it
- If the contract or agreement is silent, the employer can require work without additional pay (beyond the normal daily rate)
- Many French employers grant all 11 jours fériés as paid holidays, even when not legally required — check your conventions collectives
Calculating Holiday Pay
For employees entitled to paid jours fériés, the pay is based on the employee’s normal daily rate:
Daily rate = Monthly salary / Number of days in the month (or 30.42 for a 365-day year)
Replacement Day Rules
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday in France, the general rule is that the holiday is lost. There is no automatic replacement day. However:
- Collective agreements may provide for a replacement day on the following Monday
- Company agreements or established custom can grant a replacement day
- 1 May has special rules — if it falls on a Sunday, some collective agreements provide for a replacement day
Practical tip: Check your collective agreement (convention collective) for specific replacement day provisions. Many sectoral agreements include them.
Working on a Jour Férié
Employee Rights
Employees can be required to work on a jour férié (except 1 May) if:
- Their employment contract or collective agreement permits it
- The business cannot close for operational reasons
- The employee receives the appropriate compensation
Compensation
The compensation for working on a jour férié depends on the applicable collective agreement:
- Some agreements provide double pay
- Some provide a compensatory day off within a set period
- Some provide no additional compensation beyond the normal daily rate
Always check your convention collective for the specific provisions that apply to your employees.
Common Employer Challenges
1. Conventions Collectives Complexity
France has hundreds of conventions collectives, each with potentially different public holiday provisions. Identifying the correct convention for your industry is essential.
2. Multi-Location Businesses
If you operate in both metropolitan France and Alsace-Moselle, you need separate holiday calendars. The additional holidays in Alsace-Moselle are legally binding.
3. Sundays as Public Holidays
With several public holidays falling on Sundays in 2027, many employees may expect a replacement Monday. Without a collective agreement providing for this, you are not legally required to grant one.
4. Temporary Workers
Temporary workers (intérimaires) are entitled to the same public holiday pay as permanent employees, proportional to their working time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all employees get all 11 jours fériés off?
No. Only 1 May is a mandatory paid day off. For other jours fériés, entitlement depends on the employment contract and applicable collective agreement.
What if a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
The holiday is generally lost. There is no automatic replacement day unless the collective agreement or company policy provides for one.
Are part-time employees entitled to public holidays?
Yes, on a pro-rata basis. Part-time employees receive holiday pay proportional to their working hours.
Can an employer substitute a jour férié with another day?
In some cases, collective agreements allow employers to replace a jour férié with another day (e.g., for religious holidays). This must be provided for in the agreement and agreed with employee representatives.
What about floating holidays?
Some conventions collectives grant additional “floating” holidays that the employee can take on a day of their choice. These are separate from the 11 statutory jours fériés.