Staying Open on 25 December and 1 January in Indonesia: Pay Rules for Staff Who Work
Christmas on 25 December 2026 and New Year on 1 January 2027 are national holidays in Indonesia, while 24 December is joint leave. The pay treatment differs, and holiday rosters should be agreed in writing.Christmas on Friday, 25 December 2026 and New Year on Friday, 1 January 2027 are national holidays in Indonesia, while Thursday, 24 December 2026 is a joint leave day. For shops, cafes and service businesses that stay open, Manpower Minister Yassierli has been clear on one point: "Employers who have workers work on a national holiday must pay overtime wages."
The statement was reported by Katadata on 16 September 2026. With the holiday season about six weeks away, now is the time to build the roster and work out what it costs.
The dates and where they come from
- 25 December 2026, the Christmas national holiday, and 24 December 2026, joint leave. Both appear in the 2026 holiday list published by CNBC Indonesia on 19 September 2025.
- 1 January 2027, the New Year national holiday. It appears in the joint decree of three ministers on 2027 holidays, published by the State Secretariat on 15 September 2026.
Note that the two December dates come from the decision for 2026, while 1 January comes from the decision for 2027.
National holidays and joint leave are different things
"Joint leave" is our translation of cuti bersama: bridge days the government declares around a public holiday. This is the distinction that gets mixed up most often, and the effect on pay is very different.
| National holiday (25 December, 1 January) | Joint leave (24 December) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Workers are generally not obliged to work | Optional |
| If the employee takes the day off | A normal day off | Deducted from annual leave |
| If the employee works | Overtime wages must be paid | Paid as a normal working day, annual leave untouched |
| In private businesses | Follows employment rules | Arranged by each organisation's own management |
The first three rows follow the Minister's explanation as reported by Katadata. The last row follows the State Secretariat's note that joint leave in private institutions is arranged by their own management.
Who may be scheduled to work
Katadata cites Manpower Minister Circular Number M/6/HK.04/XII/2024: workers are generally not obliged to work on national holidays. An employer may schedule work in two situations:
- for work that must run continuously, or
- under certain conditions with a written agreement.
The sources do not spell out which jobs count as work that "must run continuously". For most shops and cafes, then, the safest footing is a written agreement with each employee who will come in.
Two things to know about the basis of these rules
First, the Minister's statement was made in September 2026 in the context of the 2027 holiday decree, and it refers to a 2024 circular. Since 28 October 2026, Law Number 27 of 2026 on Labour Protection has been in force, and it may bring different details. Watch for a new circular ahead of Christmas.
Second, the sources we read do not give the overtime rate for holidays. We do not state a figure here. Ask a consultant or the local manpower office for the calculation before you fix a budget. If you came here searching for "working public holiday Indonesia" hoping for a multiplier, that is the honest answer for now.
Building the year-end roster
This section is our practical advice.
1. Decide opening hours first. Not every business needs to open fully on 25 December and 1 January. Look at last year's sales for the same dates. A half day with a small team often makes more sense than a full day at full overtime cost.
2. Offer before you assign. Ask who is willing to work. Some employees want the shift because the pay is higher. Others celebrate Christmas or already have family plans. Starting with volunteers makes the written agreement far easier.
3. Put the agreement in writing. One page or one stored written message is enough, covering: name, date and hours, a statement that the day is a national holiday paid at overtime wages, and the employee's consent. Keep it with the attendance record.
4. Treat 24 December separately. Decide whether your business follows the joint leave. If you close, say clearly that the day comes out of annual leave. If you open, staff who work are paid as on a normal day and keep their leave.
5. Share the load fairly. If someone works Christmas, try to give them New Year off, and the reverse. Keep a note of this year's split so next year can rotate.
6. Cost it before you announce it. Add up the hours across the two national holidays, have the rate calculated properly, and compare against expected sales. If it does not add up, shorten the hours.
7. Announce by early December. Staff need time to plan, and customers need to know when you are open. Put holiday hours on your business profile and in your automatic replies.
A short checklist
- Opening hours for 24 December, 25 December, 31 December and 1 January are decided.
- Employees working on 25 December and 1 January have agreed in writing.
- The treatment of 24 December (closed or open) is announced, including its effect on leave balances.
- The holiday overtime rate is confirmed and included in the December and January payroll budget.
- Attendance for those days will be recorded on the day, not reconstructed later.
If attendance, leave and payroll are recorded in one place such as Polynusa, holiday hours and joint leave deductions are visible the moment payroll is calculated.
Note: this article summarises news reports and is not legal advice. Confirm your own case with an employment consultant or the local manpower office.
Sources
- Katadata, 16 September 2026: SKB Libur dan Cuti Bersama 2027 Terbit, Menaker Beberkan Hak Pekerja
- State Secretariat of Indonesia (Kementerian Sekretariat Negara), 15 September 2026: Inilah SKB 3 Menteri Libur Nasional dan Cuti Bersama 2027
- CNBC Indonesia, 19 September 2025: Daftar 17 Hari Libur Nasional dan 8 Hari Cuti Bersama Tahun 2026
FAQ
Must staff who work on 25 December be paid overtime in Indonesia?
Manpower Minister Yassierli, quoted by Katadata, said employers who have workers work on a national holiday must pay overtime wages.
Is 24 December 2026 a national holiday in Indonesia?
No. According to the list published by CNBC Indonesia it is joint leave, which is optional and reduces annual leave when taken.
Can an employer require staff to work on a national holiday?
According to the ministerial circular cited by Katadata, workers are generally not obliged to work on national holidays, except for work that must run continuously or under certain conditions with a written agreement.