Non-essential government offices to close for festive season

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a temporary closure of all non-essential government offices during the upcoming Christmas and New Year period.

The closure will be effective from Monday, December 29, 2025, to Friday, January 2, 2026.

Acting permanent secretary for the Civil Service, Pita Tagicakirewa, confirmed that while general administrative offices will close, essential services, including healthcare, emergency response, and law enforcement, will remain fully operational.

Members of the public are advised to finalise any urgent business with non-essential government agencies before the shutdown begins to avoid inconvenience.

• Essential Services: Will maintain full staffing to ensure critical public safety and health services are uninterrupted.
• Discretionary coverage: permanent secretaries have been given the authority to determine if skeleton staff are needed for specific departments. They are currently finalising rosters to ensure necessary coverage remains in place.

The decision aims to provide Fiji’s civil servants with a well-deserved break following a year of service.

“This shutdown period provides an opportunity for our civil servants to rest and spend quality time with their families and loved ones over the festive season,” Mr Tagicakirewa stated.

He said that this initiative is expected to boost overall staff morale and well-being as the workforce prepares for the new 2026 calendar year.

Normal government operations for all departments are expected to resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.