Offices to close for Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Offices in China will close Monday for the Mid-Autumn Festival and Oct. 1-7 for National Day.

What does the change mean? Employers and applicants should plan around the holiday closures and file all time-sensitive applications before the closures.

• Implementation time frame: Sept. 24 and Oct. 1-7 (Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29-30, will be normal working days).
• Visas/permits affected: All immigration and government services.
• Impact on processing times: Applicants should expect slower processing.
• Business impact: Employers should factor in the holiday closures when planning business schedules and start dates.

Background: The Mid-Autumn festival is a harvest celebration that falls on the full moon of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, Sept. 24 this year. Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan also observe the holiday, but closure dates may vary.

National Day, meanwhile, is celebrated Oct. 1 of every year in China to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Offices will be closed Oct. 1-7 to mark this holiday.

Analysis & Comments: Employers should plan around the holidays and anticipate a backlog when offices reopen.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.