Public Holidays in Cape Verde for 2019
Cape Verde has ten islands in its archipelago has sunshine all-year-round making it great for winter vacations. There are 11 national holidays, an additional one, and 12 more.
It is the government decree 18/84 that regulates the national holidays. This decree already established 11 holidays that were celebrated, and it gives the government an authority to establish a federal holiday every year.
The ministry departments announce the non-working holidays if the information is in a public decree. The Cape Verde laws keep holidays that happen on a Sunday from being celebrated on the next workday.
The employees enjoy their vacations by visiting the other islands if it is just a short one or flying to different places for long holidays.
What Employers Must Know About Cape Verde Public Holidays
Compensation and benefits are vital to any company and its employees. The compensation laws in Cape Verde require you to give a salary, overtime pay; annual paid leave, and a lot more. The Cape Verde management plan must include statutory benefits for you to comply with. However, doing more than the minimum shows employees that you care for them, and you want them to stay with your company for a long time.
Cape Verde’s minimum salary is 11,000 Cape Verdean escudos monthly for workers employed in private sectors. The entry-level workers have a compensation of at least 12,000 Cape Verdean escudos a month.
Your employees must receive at least 22 days of paid leave every year after working for six months if their contract is indefinite.
There are also sick and parental leaves, which are guaranteed benefits of each employee that you must provide.
Dates of the Cape Verde Public Holiday 2019
Date | Day/s | Holiday | Type |
1 January | Tuesday | New Year | Public |
13 January | Sunday | Democracy Day | Public |
20 January | Sunday | National Heroes’ Day | Public |
20 March | Wednesday | March Equinox | Season |
1 May | Wednesday | Labour Day | Public |
12 May | Sunday | Mother’s Day | Observance |
1 June | Saturday | Children’s Day | Public |
16 June | Sunday | Father’s Day | Observance |
21 June | Friday | June Solstice | Season |
5 July | Friday | Independence Day | Public |
15 August | Thursday | Assumption of Mary | Public |
23 September | Monday | September Equinox | Season |
1 November | Friday | All Saints’ Day | Public |
22 December | Sunday | December Solstice | Season |
25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day | Public |
Benefits of Employees During Cape Verde Public Holidays
Cape Verde’s labour code is strict about its policies for national holidays. Employees must be granted a paid day off during nationally recognized holidays. In case the employee must work according to the kind of work they will do, they must be compensated for double their hourly wage. The contracts are not allowed to overrule this part of the law.
As for sick and parental leave, the Cape Verdean Social Security System (INPS) must pay for sick leave for up to 30 days that have a medical certificate. In case the sick leave is more than 30 days, the Health Board must examine the employee. Pregnant, nursing, and puerperal women, and adoptive candidates or parents of foster children may have 60 consecutive days of parental leave.
Some companies can’t always start to work in Cape Verde right away, but it is not still possible. Before you provide compensation and benefits, you must be a subsidiary, which could take weeks or months to achieve. This process delays the whole operating schedule.
Doing Business in Cape Verde
The economy of Cape Verde mainly focuses on service because they rely on tourism, commerce, transport, and foreign investment. A quarter of their working population works in agriculture. Their primary crops are beans and maize. They also grow different varieties of fruits and vegetables.
This island needs more natural resources which is why they must import a lot of their food.
The good thing is that the legislation of Cape Verde encourages foreign investment, especially when it comes to energy, fishing, and tourism. They have a lot of competitive advantages for investors because it is close to Europe, there are en route flights from the USA.
If you are thinking of why you must set up a business in Cape Verde, you must fulfill the necessary costs and bureaucratic requirements. It only takes 24 to 40 days to open a business.
Cape Verde is a beautiful country that offers a lot of opportunities for investors who want to expand their business.