Burkina Faso’s Holiday Reform to Save 16.88 Billion CFA

Burkina Faso has introduced major changes to its public holiday calendar following the unanimous approval of new legislation by the Transitional Legislative Assembly, a move the government says will significantly reduce public spending and improve administrative efficiency.

The bill was passed on 9 January 2026, with all 70 legislators present voting in favour. It establishes a new legal framework that separates paid public holidays from dates set aside for national reflection and remembrance.

Officials say the reform replaces the existing holiday law enacted in 2015, which had designated numerous historically significant dates as paid holidays. Under the new arrangement, the number of paid days off has been reduced to 11, down from 15, a change projected to save the state nearly CFA 16.88 billion.

A key provision of the legislation eliminates the long-standing practice of granting an additional paid day off when a public holiday falls on a Sunday.
Authorities argue that this measure alone will help maintain service continuity across public institutions.
Several dates of national importance will continue to be officially recognised, but without paid leave.

These include Independence Day, National Martyrs’ Day, commemorations of the popular uprising, and All Saints’ Day. The law also places 4 August 1983, marking the beginning of the revolutionary period, and 15 October 1987, the anniversary of the death of President Thomas Sankara, within the category of remembrance days.

At the same time, the government has elevated 15 May, a day celebrating customs and traditions, to the status of a paid public holiday. Authorities say this reflects an effort to recognise cultural heritage while reaffirming the secular character of the state.

Speaking after the vote, Labour Minister Mathias Traoré explained that the reform introduces clearer definitions around non-working days and limits the automatic creation of paid holidays. He added that future decisions on days off would be guided by operational needs and national priorities.

The government has framed the reform as part of a broader push to strengthen sovereignty, enhance productivity, and ensure the smooth functioning of public services by reducing work disruptions across the public sector.