Working days and hours in Latvia, 2026
In 2026 the normal working-time norm in Latvia is 1994 hours: 250 working days of 8 hours, 6 of which are one hour shorter before a public holiday. A month runs from 152 to 184 hours, or 19 to 23 working days.
The figures assume full time, 8 hours a day and 40 a week (Labour Law, Section 131), and the public holidays set by the Law on Holidays, Remembrance and Celebration Days.
Updated
Working days and hours by month, 2026
| Month | Working days | Working hours | Shortened days | Weekday days off | Min. hourly rate, € |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 168 | 0 | 1 | 4.6429 |
| February | 20 | 160 | 0 | 0 | 4.8750 |
| March | 22 | 176 | 0 | 0 | 4.4318 |
| April | 20 | 158 | 2 | 2 | 4.9367 |
| May | 19 | 152 | 0 | 2 | 5.1316 |
| June | 20 | 159 | 1 | 2 | 4.9057 |
| July | 23 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 4.2391 |
| August | 21 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 4.6429 |
| September | 22 | 176 | 0 | 0 | 4.4318 |
| October | 22 | 176 | 0 | 0 | 4.4318 |
| November | 20 | 159 | 1 | 1 | 4.9057 |
| December | 20 | 158 | 2 | 3 | 4.9367 |
| Year total | 250 | 1,994 | 6 | 11 |
Minimum hourly rate = minimum monthly wage €780 / the month's working hours (Cabinet Regulation No. 656, point 3).
By quarter and half-year
| Period | Working days | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 63 | 504 |
| Q2 | 59 | 469 |
| Q3 | 66 | 528 |
| Q4 | 62 | 493 |
| First half | 122 | 973 |
| Second half | 128 | 1021 |
Shortened pre-holiday days in 2026
Section 135 of the Labour Law makes the working day right before a public holiday one hour shorter, unless a collective agreement, the work rules or the contract set an even shorter day. A Friday before a Monday holiday is not shortened, because the weekend comes in between.
- 2 April Thursday before Good Friday
- 30 April Thursday before Labour Day
- 22 June Monday before Midsummer Eve (Līgo)
- 17 November Tuesday before Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia
- 23 December Wednesday before Christmas Eve
- 30 December Wednesday before New Year's Eve
How the norm is worked out
Count Monday to Friday, take away the public holidays that fall on a weekday and the day off the law adds when 4 May, 18 November or the Song and Dance Festival closing day falls on a weekend. Multiply the working days by 8 hours and take one hour off for each pre-holiday day.
State-budget institutions move working days to Saturdays within the same month in 2026, so the day count holds. The hours stay the same too. The holiday page lists the moved days.
Public holidays and long weekends in 2026 · Working days between two dates · Salary calculator · Minimum hourly rate
Frequently asked questions
How many working days are there in Latvia in 2026?
Latvia has 250 working days in 2026 on a Monday to Friday week. Public holidays that fall on a weekday, and any day off in lieu, are not counted.
How many working hours are there in 2026?
A full-time employee has 1994 working hours in 2026: 250 days of 8 hours, less 6 hours for the shortened days before public holidays.
Which month of 2026 has the most working hours?
July has the most, 184 hours over 23 working days. May has the fewest, 152 hours.
Is the pre-holiday day shortened for part-time staff too?
Section 135 of the Labour Law shortens the working day before a public holiday by one hour, unless a collective agreement, the work rules or the employment contract set an even shorter day. This table applies it to a full-time employee; for part-time or aggregated working time the norm follows the contract and the schedule.
What is the minimum hourly rate in 2026?
It changes every month: the minimum monthly wage of €780 is divided by the normal working hours of that month (Cabinet Regulation No. 656, point 3). The table works it out for each month.
Sources
- Labour Law (Sections 131 and 135), likumi.lv
- Law on Holidays, Remembrance and Celebration Days, likumi.lv
- Cabinet Regulation No. 656 on the minimum monthly wage and the minimum hourly rate
Assumes a standard 8-hour day, 5-day week. Not legal advice.
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