SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Labor has issued an official nationwide reminder regarding the mandatory observance of Our Lady of Altagracia Day this coming Wednesday, January 21. According to the announcement, all public and private sector establishments across the national territory must recognize this date as an official non-working holiday.
The regulatory clarification specifies that normal business operations must resume on Thursday, January 22, in strict compliance with the country’s Labor Law 139-97 governing official holiday observances. The ministry’s directive emphasizes that this requirement applies uniformly to all employers and workers throughout the Dominican Republic.
Labor authorities have reinforced the mandatory nature of this religious and cultural holiday, urging full compliance with existing labor regulations concerning compensation and operational status during officially designated non-working days. The announcement serves as both a reminder and regulatory reinforcement for the proper observance of one of the nation’s most significant religious holidays, which honors the country’s patron saint.