Every time we discuss public holidays, the same argument quickly returns: are too many days off hurting productivity? Supporters of fewer holidays believe more working days automatically strengthen the economy, while others argue that rest is essential for sustainable performance. But global evidence suggests the relationship between holidays and productivity is far more complicated than it first appears.
Do More Working Days Actually Improve Productivity?
To truly answer the question of whether fewer holidays make people more productive, it is only right to look at thriving economies and examine how they balance working hours, rest days, and public holidays. By studying nations that have built reputations for efficiency and peak output, we can test whether productivity is really tied to the number of holidays or if there are other factors that play a more decisive role.
What Zambia Can Learn from Norway
Norway consistently ranks among the world’s most prosperous countries across major global development and quality-of-life indices. Many Norwegian workplaces operate around a 7.5-hour working day, excluding lunch. Unlike Zambia, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, employees in Norway do not get an additional day off on the following Monday.
Although it relies heavily on its petroleum reserves for its economy, Norway also has a highly productive service sector, strong democratic institutions, low corruption and an educated workforce; all these factors contribute to its highly stable and productive economy.
Japan’s Productivity Model
Japan is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world. The country observes 16 national public holidays where schools, government offices and most standard corporate businesses are closed. Similar to Zambia, it has an 8-hour/day work schedule.
The country began its rise to economic boom after World War II, with a focus on technological change, accumulation of capital, increased quantity and quality of labour, and increased international trade. Through strategic planning and cooperation by firms, individuals, and the government, Japan strategically leveraged these factors to become the fifth-largest economy in the world. Japan’s “economic miracle” had little to do with the number of work hours and more to do with policy, work ethic, discipline and cutting-edge innovation. When work is done effectively and efficiently, a country can afford to have extended public holiday periods like those occasionally seen in Japan.
Germany and the Debate Around Public Holidays
Germany is Europe’s largest economy, with a highly developed corporate and service sector. The country also has first-rate vocational training and an excellent education system, which is apparent in its capacity to deliver innovative industrial products.
According to its official working calendar for 2026, there are 9 nationwide public holidays. Additionally, employees in certain federal states receive 2 to 4 extra days off, depending on regional holidays. The standard full-time work day is 8 hours.
Its economy is driven by its vehicle construction, electricity industry and engineering and chemical industries. The country also spends a decent amount of its GDP on research and innovation, in comparison with other European countries. Investments in research and innovation are an important indicator of a country’s prosperity and competitiveness.
However, it is worth noting that the country registered a second year of economic contraction last year and calls from experts for the reduction of public holidays to drive economic growth were made. The German Economic Research Institute (IW) introduced a study that stated that eliminating holidays by one day has an economic effect of 8.6 billion euros, equivalent to 0.2% of GDP. Denmark was used as a case study to show the increase in a nation's revenue just by reducing public holidays by a day.
The Productivity Debate in Zambia
Zambia has 15 national public holidays and observes an 8-hour workday policy. Recently, there had been deliberations in Parliament about improving national productivity by removing the “bonus Monday” holiday. The “bonus Monday” is a long-standing practice where, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the workforce automatically gets the following Monday off. The bill to remove these bonus holidays was withdrawn from Parliament and will not proceed, but has still sparked conversation among citizens, raising the question: Will fewer holidays really make Zambians more productive?
Let us take a look at Zambia’s current economic state to fully grasp the Zambian context. In 2024, real GDP growth slowed to 4.0% from 5.4% in 2023, due to an unprecedented drought that caused electricity and agriculture contraction. However, growth is projected to bounce to 6.0% this year, driven by recovery in energy, agriculture and mining. Real GDP per capita is projected at 3.1% in 2026, and inflation should fall to 7.1% in 2026 as agriculture recovers and food prices decline. However, global uncertainty poses a risk to this comeback, and other factors such as a possible recurrent drought, reductions in official development assistance and international aid, new U.S. trade tariffs, and commodity price vulnerability also undermine this progress. Mitigation measures include irrigation-led agriculture, export diversification, regional integration, and a flexible exchange rate. The country has also made significant progress in its debt restructuring.
What Really Affects Productivity in Zambia
While Zambia’s GDP outlook suggests resilience, the true measure of productivity goes beyond growth projections; structural drivers such as employment patterns, work ethic, culture and industrial capacity are what truly sustain an economy. Unemployment and underemployment remain pressing challenges that continue to affect and limit productivity. Poor implementation of policy and a lack of policy that actually addresses existing problems also pose a threat to productivity. There is also a need to boost the industrial sector to improve output and quality, and reduce the need for imported goods. Additionally, a shift in discipline would greatly improve efficiency and reduce corruption, which eats away at any progress made by the hardworking labour force.
Will Fewer Holidays Actually Help Zambia?
If Zambia truly wants to boost productivity, the focus should be on structural reforms and not the holiday calendar. Production will rise not by cutting holidays but by tackling issues that cripple production and revenue accumulation, such as unemployment, debt and corruption. Global evidence is clear: fewer holidays do not automatically translate into a thriving economy. The answers lie in a dedicated and disciplined workforce and a leadership that creates an economic environment for growth. Japan, Norway and Germany offer inspiration, but Zambia’s productivity growth will only come by reshaping those lessons to fit its own realities.
