Public Holidays in Nepal for 2019
Nepal is considered the ‘Land of Festivals’ because there is at least one part of the nation that celebrates a festival every day. The festivals can be linked to the commemorating the departed soul, a different season, to mark an agricultural cycle’s beginning or end, for family celebrations or national events, etc. On the day of the festival, the Nepalese have a ritual bath, visit temples, worship gods and goddesses, fast, and feast. The most significant aspect of their culture is their religious harmony, and that is what prevails among the Buddhists and Hindus.
There is a total of 15 holidays in Nepal as announced by the Government of Nepal. In 2019, the government reduced the public holidays from 84 to 52, including Saturdays. The dates of their holidays may also change, but they also announce it.
What Employers Should Know About Nepal Public Holiday
Employees that are under the Employer Ordinance must be given statutory holidays. An employer should not pay the employee instead of a holiday, except if their employment contract is terminated. That means buying out a holiday is illegal. An employer who does not follow restrictions will be prosecuted and must pay an eviction fine of $50,000. If the employer requires the employee to come to work on a statutory holiday, they must arrange a substitute holiday.
A statutory holiday is not a public holiday, and the employer is not required by the Employment Ordinance to grant leaves on public holidays to employees.
Dates of the Nepal Public Holiday 2019
| Date | Which Day/s | Holiday | Type |
| 28 February | Thursday | National Mourning Day | Public |
| 4 March | Monday | Maha Shivaratri | Public |
| 8 March | Friday | Nari Dibas | Public |
| 14 April | Sunday | Nepali New Year | Public |
| 1 May | Wednesday | Labor Day | Public |
| 18 May | Saturday | Buddha Jayanti | Public |
| 29 May | Wednesday | Republic Day | Observance |
| 15 August | Thursday | Janai Purnima | Public |
| 19 August | Thursday | Gai Jatra | Public |
| 23 August | Friday | Shree Krishna Janamashtami | Public |
| 3 September | Tuesday | Rishi Panchami | Public |
| 7 September | Saturday | Civil Service Day | Public |
| 12 September | Thursday | Indra Jatra | Public |
| 20 September | Friday | Constitution Day | Public |
| 29 September | Sunday | Ghatasthpana | Public |
| 5 October | Saturday | Phulpati | Public |
| 7 October | Monday | Nawami | Public |
| 8 October | Tuesday | Dashami | Public |
| 9 October | Wednesday | Ekadashi | Public |
| 10 October | Thursday | Duwadashi | Public |
| 13 October | Sunday | Holiday for Chinese President’s Visit | Public |
| 13 October | Sunday | Kojagrat Purnima | Public |
| 27 October | Sunday | Laxmi Puja | Public |
| 28 October | Monday | Gobhardian Pujan | Public |
| 12 November | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public |
| 3 December | Tuesday | International Day of Disabled Persons | Observance |
| 12 December | Thursday | Udhauli Parva | Observance |
| 22 December | Sunday | December Solstice | Season |
| 25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day | Observance |
| 31 December | Tuesday | Tamu Lhosar | Observance |
Employee Benefits if they Work on a Holiday
An employee who has been under contract with the same company for at least three months before the statutory holiday is entitled to be granted a statutory holiday. They are also entitled to holiday pay.
The holiday pay’s daily rate is the total equivalent of the daily wage earned by the employee in a period of 12 months before the specific dates. If the employee has not reached 12 months yet, the calculation is based on a shorter period.
Female workers must be given 52 days of paid maternity leave. Employees must be given one-off day a week.
The holiday pay must be paid to the employee must be given on his or her next payday after the statutory holiday.
Doing Business in Nepal
Nepal businesses are open six days a week, and the offices are generally open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday from Sunday to Friday.
Nepal has one of the least developed economies, but it is significantly supported by the tourism, service, and agriculture industry.
Here are some business ideas in Nepal:
Agriculture
Nepal is driven by agriculture. It is a country that produces crops all year, and it is famous for its organic farming methods. Nepal has a growing middle-class population, so you can expect that agriculture is a top Nepali sector with a huge potential for investment in the next decades to come.
Dry Cleaning
The dry-cleaning business is good in Nepal. Even if laundry equipment can be expensive, there are plenty of options to buy second-hand equipment in good condition.
These are the reasons why setting up a business in Nepal is ideal.
