Hungary: Proposal to make December 24 a public holiday

A proposal is currently awaiting parliamentary discussion in Hungary to designate December 24 as an official public holiday. The initiative, submitted in July by the National Association of Labor Councils and the Egyenlő. hu union, seeks to amend the Labor Code rather than the Fundamental Law, which would allow for a simpler legislative process without the need for a referendum or a two-thirds majority.

If adopted, the change would provide workers with automatic protection and ensure that retail stores remain closed on Christmas Eve. This would also eliminate the current requirement under ministerial decrees where workers must make up the day by working on a nearby Saturday.

While previous governments rejected similar proposals citing macroeconomic concerns, some retailers, such as Lidl, have already begun closing voluntarily on December 24. Proponents argue that the change is a matter of cultural and family rights, noting that the current system places an unfair burden on workers, particularly mothers, who must work during major holiday celebrations.