Ethiopian Federal Laws

THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA A PROCLAMATION TO DETERMINE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

WHEREAS, it is essential to provide legal recognition for Public Holidays due to their substantial contribution to the development of citizens’ discipline and psychology, and their social and economic contribution for the country and people;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to proclaim by law the celebration of Public Holidays for their peaceful and warm celebration, and in ways that strengthen positive inter-relationships among citizens, keeping their religious, cultural, and historical values;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Articles 55 Sub-Article (1) and 55 SubArticle (2) Paragraph (f) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby Proclaimed as follows.

SECTION ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Short Title

This Proclamation may be cited as the “Proclamation to Determine Public Holidays and Celebration of Public Holidays Proclamation No.1334/2024.”

2. Definition

1. “Public Holiday” means any national or religious holiday prescribed under Article 4, 5 or 6 of this Proclamation;
2. “National Holiday” means any public holiday prescribed under Article 4 or 5 of this Proclamation, which is presumed as the holiday of all Ethiopians and celebrated at the national level;
3. “Celebrated Public Holiday” means a public holiday to be celebrated throughout the country as per this Proclamation, other appropriate laws, religious systems, and cultural systems; and unless it becomes necessary to make employees available at work as per a law, Governmental and NonGovernmental institutions be closed for public service;
4. “Memorial Public Holiday” means a public holiday to be commemorated either by Governmental and Non -Governmental inistitutions throughout the country,with out closing those inistitutions;
5. “Religious Holiday” means any holiday prescribed under Article 6 of this Proclamation, which is to be celebrated according to religious procedures;
6. “Government” means Federal or Regional Government;
7. “Government Institution” means any institution that is fully or partially administered by the Government budget and the works of Federal or Regional Governments are being done;
8. “Non-Governmental Institution” means any undertaking, established by law, for profit or non-profit purpose;
9. Any expression in the masculine gender includes the feminine;
10. “Person” means any natural or juridical person.

3. Scope of Application

This Proclamation is applicable throughout Ethiopia and on Ethiopian foreign Embassies and Consulates.

SECTION TWO
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

SUB-SECTION ONE
National Holidays and Religious Holidays

4. Celebrated National Holidays

1. September 11, New Year (Enkutatash)
2. March 02, Adwa Victory Day
3. May 01, International Workers’ Day
4. May 05, Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day
5. Governmental and Non Governmental institutions shall be closed for public service on the national public holidays prescribed under Sub-Articles (1-4) of this Article.

5. Memorial National Holidays

1. Without prejudice those memorial Public Holidays recognized by this Proclamation and other laws, the following Holidays are memorial National Holidays to be memorized at the National level:
   1. february 20, Ethiopian Martyrs’ Day,
   2. december 09, Ethiopian National Unity Day (Ethiopian Nations and Nationalities) Day
2. Governmental and Non-Governmental institutions shall be open for public service on the National Public Holidays prescribed under Sub-Article (1) of this Article.

6. Religious Holidays

1. September 27, Meskel Holiday,
2. Notwithstanding a change of date in a leap year, January 07, Christmas Holiday,
3. January 19, Epiphany
4. Good Friday,
5. Easter,
6. Mawlid,
7. Eid al-Fitr,
8. Eid al-Adha,
9. Without prejudice to provisions of this proclamation and other laws Governmental and Non-Governmental institutions shall be closed for public service on the religious holidays prescribed under Sub-Articles (1-8) of this Article.

7. Public Holidays are Salaried Days

1. Notwithstanding the celebrated National Holidays and Religious holidays indicated under Articles 4 and 6 are the days on which regular works are not being done or Governmental and non-Governmental institutions are closed for public service, the salary of any employee who is employed by Governmental or nonGovernmental institution shall not be deducted for not working on these days.
2. Nothing in the Provisions of Article 4 Sub Article (5) and Article 6 Sub Article (9) of this Proclamation shall affect the relevant provisions of Labour as well as Civil Servants laws that govern working on Holiday days.

8. Works and Services to be Rendered on Public Holidays

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 4 SubArticle (5) and Article 6 Sub Article (9) this proclamation, the following works and services shall be rendered on celebrated National Holidays and Religious Holidays:
   1. services necessary for the day-to-day life of the people and cannot be interrupted: such as water, electric light, telephone service, television, radio, and other similar basic services,
   2. hospitals, health centers, clinics, and pharmacies,
   3. services necessary for the peace and security life of the people: such as police, defense force, intelligence, fire control services and other natural and man-made disasters prevention services,
   4. public transport services and gas stations,
   5. museums and Parks,
   6. other works and services to be determined by a directive or a decision of relevant authority.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 4 Sub-Article (5) and Article 6 Sub Article (9) this proclamation, the following works and services may be rendered on celebrated National Holidays and Religious Holidays:
   1. manufacturing industries working with shift programs,
   2. hotels, cafes, restaurants, groceries, lodges, pensions, and sanitary services,
   3. public recreation centers and parks,
   4. libraries and museums,
   5. commercial shops and stores,
   6. theater houses,
   7. other works and services to be determined by a directive or a decision of relevant authority.

SUB-SECTION TWO
CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

9. Celebration of Ethiopian New Year

1. The Ethiopian New Year shall be celebrated nation wide on September 11, the Head of the State of the Republic, and as may be required, a higher official to be delegated by the Government convey, on the eve of the Holiday, a “Happy New Year” message; the Federal Government, at 6:00 am, shall fire a cannon for the celebration of the holiday.
2. The Ethiopian New Year shall be celebrated, by coordination of Ministry of Culture and Sport.

10. Celebration of Adwa Victory

1. The Ministry of Defense shall organize and coordinate the celebration by showing the glory of the Adwan Victory and how the next generation can learn from it.
2. The Federal Government, on the day of the celebration at 6:00 am, shall fire a cannon for the celebration of the holiday.
3. A higher official to be delegated by the Government, on the eve of the holiday, convey a “Happy Adwa Victory Day” message through public media to the people of the country.

11. Celebration of Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day

1. Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day, the day on which Ethiopian people defeated the colonial Italian army, shall be celebrated nationwide on May 05; on the day of the celebration at 6:00 am, the Federal Government shall fire a cannon for the celebration of the holiday, and a higher official to be delegated by the Government, convey a “Happy Patriots’ Victory Day” message to the people of the country.
2. The ministry of culture and sport in accordance with Ethiopian patriots association, shall coordinate the celebration of Ethiopian patriots’ victory day.

12. Celebration of International Workers’Day

The International Workers’ Day, to be celebrated nationwide on May 01, and at the Federal level, the celebration shall be coordinated by the Ministry mandated with labour related mandates with the attendance of representatives of workers, labour unions and the Government.

13. Memorization of Ethiopian Martyrs’ Day

The Ethiopian Martyrs’ Day is the day on which Ethiopians were brutally killed by the Fascist Italian army; and the memorial ceremony shall be coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and Sport with the attendance of representatives from the Government, Patriots, elders, and other relevant stakeholders.

14. Ethiopian Nations and Nationalities Day

December 09, is the day on which equality of Ethiopian citizens, and human and democratic rights are assured and constitutionally recognized, and the day the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is adopted; and it shall be commemorated through different programs by the coordination of the House of Federation.

SUB-SECTION THREE
CELEBRATION OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

15. Celebration of Religious Holidays

1. Religious Holidays shall be celebrated according to relevant religious celebration procedures.
2. Religious leaders convey a Happy Holiday message and religious messages regarding issues to be considered while celebrating the holiday, through public media, to the people.
3. If the celebration of a Religious Holiday involves ceremonies at the public square and public places, the Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, in order to protect the peace and security of the people, and prevent any security threats caused by practices that are alien to the Religious values, shall, in collaboration with the local administrations and leaders of religious institutions, carry out their responsibilities of ensuring the peace and security of the people, perform appropriate preparatory works, take necessary preventive and corrective measures.

SECTION THREE
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

16. Celebration of Public Holidays in Ethiopian Embassies and Consulates Abroad

Any Ethiopian embassy or consulate abroad shall celebrate or memorize the National Holidays in addition to Religious Holidays provided under this Proclamation as per this Proclamation, Regulation to be made for the implementation of this Proclamation and the Directive to be made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the celebration of National Holidays, keeping Ethiopian Historic, Culture and Religious procedures of the Holidays.

17. Media Coverage

1. Any Government media should cover the Holiday in manner that preserves its Religious and Historical content, on the day when any Religious and National Holiday is celebrated.
2. Any private mass media may provide coverage subject to the provisions of SubArticle (1) of this article.

18. Power to Issue Regulation and Directive

1. The Council of Ministers may issue a Regulation necessary for the implementation of this Proclamation.
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Sub-Articles (1) and (3) of this Article, the Ministry of Culture and Sport may issue Directives for the implementation of this Proclamation and the Regulation to be made as per Sub-Article (1) of this Article.
3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may issue Directives for the celebration of Public Holidays and Religious Holidays in the Embassies and Consulates of Ethiopia abroad.

19. Repealed Laws

1. The Proclamation for the determination of National Holidays and rest days, Proclamation Number 16/1975 (as amended by Proclamation number 28/1975 and Proclamation number 29/1995) is hereby repealed save the section that deals about rest days.
2. Any law or customary practice contrary to the provisions of this Proclamation shall not be applicable on matters covered by this Proclamation.

20. Effective Date

This Proclamation shall enter in to force on the date of its publication on the Federal Negarit Gazette.

Done at Addis Ababa, On this 14th Day of August, 2024
SAHLE WORK ZEWDIE
PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA