Free tools · for payroll and leave
Zambia has 15 public holidays in 2026. The next is Christmas Day, on Friday, 25 December 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Thursday |
| Women's Day (observed) | 9 March | Monday |
| Youth Day | 12 March | Thursday |
| Good Friday | 3 April | Friday |
| Holy Saturday | 4 April | Saturday |
| Easter Monday | 6 April | Monday |
| Kenneth Kaunda Day | 28 April | Tuesday |
| Labour Day | 1 May | Friday |
| Africa Freedom Day | 25 May | Monday |
| Heroes' Day | 6 July | Monday |
| Unity Day | 7 July | Tuesday |
| Farmers' Day | 3 August | Monday |
| Independence Day | 24 October | Saturday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Friday |
| National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage | 29 December | Tuesday |
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Friday |
| Women's Day | 8 March | Monday |
| Youth Day | 12 March | Friday |
| Good Friday | 26 March | Friday |
| Holy Saturday | 27 March | Saturday |
| Easter Monday | 29 March | Monday |
| Kenneth Kaunda Day | 28 April | Wednesday |
| Labour Day | 1 May | Saturday |
| Africa Freedom Day | 25 May | Tuesday |
| Heroes' Day | 5 July | Monday |
| Unity Day | 6 July | Tuesday |
| Farmers' Day | 2 August | Monday |
| Independence Day (observed) | 25 October | Monday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Saturday |
| National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage | 29 December | Wednesday |
A holiday the government declares during the year is added when it is gazetted. SwiftlyPeople leaves these days out of leave requests and pays work on them at the holiday rate.
The rates a company in Zambia starts with in SwiftlyPeople, as multiples of the hourly rate (monthly pay over 208 hours). Each is a setting, so a company can match its own agreement.
| Paid at | |
|---|---|
| Overtime on a public holiday | 2 × the hourly rate |
| Overtime on a rest day | 2 × the hourly rate |
| Overtime on a working day | 1.5 × the hourly rate |
The leave a new company in Zambia starts with in SwiftlyPeople. Each type is a setting, so a company can match its own policy and contracts.
| Days a year | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave | 24 | after 12 months' service; builds up to 48 days |
| Sick Leave | 78 | then 78 more on half pay; with a medical certificate |
| Maternity Leave | 98 | after 24 months' service; with a medical certificate |
| Compassionate Leave | 12 | On full pay |
| Family Responsibility Leave | 7 | after 6 months' service |
| Mother's Day | 12 | On full pay |
| Paternity Leave | 5 | after 12 months' service |
| Unpaid Leave | As agreed | unpaid |
15: New Year's Day (1 January), Women's Day (observed) (9 March), Youth Day (12 March), Good Friday (3 April), Holy Saturday (4 April), Easter Monday (6 April), Kenneth Kaunda Day (28 April), Labour Day (1 May), Africa Freedom Day (25 May), Heroes' Day (6 July), Unity Day (7 July), Farmers' Day (3 August), Independence Day (24 October), Christmas Day (25 December) and National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage (29 December).
Christmas Day, on Friday, 25 December 2026.
SwiftlyPeople pays an hour worked on a public holiday at 2 times the hourly rate in Zambia, the rate each company there starts with. A company can change it to match its own agreement, and public holidays are left out of every leave request.
A new company in SwiftlyPeople starts with 24 days a year, after 12 months' service, building up to 48 days. Each company can change it to match its own policy and contracts.
78 days on full pay, then 78 days on half pay, with a medical certificate.
98 days on full pay, after 24 months' service.
Balances build up month by month, skip public holidays, carry over to the legal limit and go to the right manager to approve.