Are you operating a business in Hungary? Then make sure you are aware of all the holidays and special days when your business is supposed to be closed, or special wage supplements are to be paid to your employees working despite. There are 13 bank holidays in Hungary, and a few other special days.
In Hungary, full time employment means 40 hours a week, which is normally distributed 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. For office and factory jobs this usually means Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, or 9 am to 5 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are rest days. Of course, shops, restaurants, and other business may operate with different opening hours: free-time facilities are typically open in the evening and on weekends, while some services need to be available around the clock. In line with this, you might already be familiar with wage supplements and working time banking.
In 2023, several holidays fall on weekends, which means little change to regular working time. However, a Sunday that is a bank holiday is different from a regular Sunday, so different opening hours, or different wage supplements apply.
When a bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday in Hungary, the preceding Monday or the following Friday is usually made a rest day to create a four-day-long weekend. When that happens, a nearby Saturday is made a working day in exchange for the new rest day. This is regulated by law, and indicated in calendars. However, in 2023 there will be no exchanged Saturdays, as holidays all fall either on weekends, Mondays, or Wednesdays. Click here to learn more about exchanged Saturdays anyway from last year’s overview.
In Hungary, there are two special days tied to official holidays. These are not bank holidays themselves, but their eves, meaning the preceding days, when people are already in a festive mood. In line with this, shops close early, employees go home early, and public transportation switches to night mode around 4 p.m.
When planning the workload in December keep in mind that employees might want to leave early on these days, or even take them off. While these days fall on Sundays and will probably not disrupt your normal operations, keep in mind that many people prefer taking vacation days before Christmas and between Christmas and New Year, which may affect your plans.
When planning work loads and business operation, keep upcoming holidays in mind. They may affect your budget through the wage supplements you might be required to pay, and your employees motivation for work, especially on short days. Consult your HR specialist, your payroll specialist, or your accountant to avoid surprises.
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Just like every year, minimum wages are being adjusted as of 1 January 2025 so employees can receive a living wage. While employment related taxes do not change, the family tax benefit is increased, and fringe benefits are expanded.
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When you operate a business in Hungary, you should be aware of the various public holidays and other special days during the course of the year. On and around holidays employees will want to go on a holiday more, while wage supplements also apply. In Hungary, there are 13 bank holidays every year, while in 2025 there will be 3 working Saturdays.
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