Nobody's day gets better when they hear the words "working Saturday." But the system behind it isn't designed to punish you — it's actually meant to give you longer, uninterrupted breaks around public holidays. Here's exactly how it works in 2026, and what you need to mark in your calendar right now.
What is a transferred working day?
A transferred working day — or "working Saturday" — is when a regular weekday is officially declared a rest day, and the lost working hours are made up on a Saturday instead.
The goal is to create a longer, connected stretch of time off around a public holiday. If a holiday falls on a Thursday, for example, making Friday a rest day gives everyone a four-day weekend. The Friday hours are then "paid back" by working a Saturday elsewhere in the calendar.
This means you're not getting an extra day off — you're swapping days. The total number of working days in the year stays the same; they're just rearranged.
Is there a working Saturday in 2026?
Yes. Saturday, December 12, 2026 is an official working day. In exchange, Thursday, December 24 becomes a rest day — giving workers a longer break over the Christmas period.
This is part of the official 2026 working calendar and applies to employees on a standard work schedule. (Two other transferred working days — January 10 and August 8 — also applied in 2026, but those fall outside the 2026/2027 academic year.)
Mark December 12 in your calendar now — especially if you're planning family activities, travel, or a long weekend getaway around that time of year.
Why do working Saturdays exist?
The logic is straightforward: public holidays don't always fall conveniently in the middle of the week. When they do, the government can create an extended holiday by bridging the gap between the holiday and the nearest weekend — but that means one working day needs to move.
Rather than lose that day entirely, it's transferred to a Saturday. The result is a longer holiday for everyone, with no net reduction in working days across the year.
Do you get extra pay for working on that Saturday?
For employees on a standard work schedule, a transferred working Saturday is treated as an ordinary working day. That means no automatic overtime rate or weekend supplement simply because it falls on a Saturday.
The situation can be different for shift workers or those on non-standard schedules — in those cases, the specific work schedule and employment contract terms always take precedence. If you're unsure how this applies to your situation, your employer is the best source of accurate information.
Does it affect schools and childcare too?
Yes — and this is especially relevant for parents. Transferred working days can also affect schools and kindergartens. In the 2026/2027 academic year, the first day of school is September 1 and the last is June 18. Schools and childcare providers are also required to factor in transferred working days when drawing up their schedules.
That said, always check directly with your child's school or kindergarten — institutional schedules can include additional details that go beyond the national calendar.
What about 2027?
The public holidays for 2027 are already known, but any working day transfers for that year are set by a separate government decree — which hasn't been published yet. Don't treat any 2027 working Saturdays as confirmed facts until the official schedule is released.
What's already visible is that several 2027 public holidays fall favorably close to weekends, which may reduce the need for transfers altogether. More details will be available once the official decree appears.
What should you do right now?
The most practical step is simple: add December 12, 2026 to your calendar as a working day, and mark December 24 as a rest day. If you have children, keep an eye on communications from their school or kindergarten. And if you have questions about how the transferred day affects your specific work arrangement, your employer is your most reliable point of contact.
A working Saturday isn't an extra day of work — it's a straightforward swap. One weekday becomes a holiday, one Saturday becomes a workday. In 2026, that Saturday is December 12, and it's worth planning around it sooner rather than later.
What is a transferred working day?
It's when a regular weekday is officially moved to a Saturday so that a longer, uninterrupted break can be created around a public holiday. The total number of working days in the year doesn't change.
Which Saturday is a working day in 2026?
December 12, 2026 is an official working day. In return, December 24 (Thursday) becomes a public rest day, extending the Christmas break.
Do you earn extra pay for working on a transferred Saturday?
Not automatically. For standard-schedule employees, a transferred Saturday counts as a normal working day. Shift workers or those on non-standard schedules should check their specific contract and work arrangement.
Do schools also operate on working Saturdays?
Schools and kindergartens are required to take transferred working days into account, but the exact schedule varies by institution. Always check directly with your child's school for the most accurate information.
Are there working Saturdays planned for 2027?
The 2027 public holidays are known, but transferred working days are confirmed by a separate government decree that has not yet been published. Wait for the official announcement before making firm plans.
