Construction holiday 2026: dates, 13% vacation pay and CCQ payroll

What are the construction holiday dates in 2026 and beyond?

Summer 2026 ran from Sunday, July 19, at 12:01 a.m., to Saturday, August 1, at midnight. The 2026-2027 holiday season leave runs from December 20, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., to January 2, 2027, at midnight. These dates are set by the 2025-2029 collective agreements and are the same in all four sectors: residential, institutional-commercial, industrial, and civil engineering and roadwork.

The CCQ states that about 80% of the industry's workers and employers are affected and that the vast majority of job sites are closed during the summer. Special rules exist for certain job sites and certain trades (see below).

How many weeks of mandatory leave per year, and who is entitled?

Four. Each employee gets four weeks of mandatory annual leave every year: two weeks in summer and two full weeks over the Christmas and New Year holidays. In residential, an employee can also take one extra week of leave, at any time, with at least ten working days' notice, as long as the employer is not deprived of more than 25% of its employees on the job site at the same time.

A few trades have a different annual leave period. The CCQ's reminder sheets name, among others, the security system installer, the refrigeration mechanic assigned to service and maintenance, the elevator mechanic assigned to repair, modernization and maintenance, and the fire protection mechanic assigned to emergency service work. Work in remote areas (isolated job site, James Bay, north of the 55th parallel) and several civil engineering and roadwork jobs also follow separate rules. For your situation, check the reminder sheet for your sector or contact your employer or union association.

How does the 13% vacation pay work?

At the end of each week, the employer must credit each employee with 13% of the wages earned during that week: 6% for mandatory annual leave, 5.5% for statutory holidays and 1.5% for sick leave. It remits these amounts to the CCQ with its monthly report.

Sample calculation, using a fictitious figure: for $1,000 in wages earned in a week, the employer credits $130, that is $60 + $55 + $15.

It is then the CCQ, not the employer, that pays the vacation pay to the worker, twice a year: at the end of June for amounts credited from July to December of the previous year, and at the end of November for amounts credited from January to June of the same year. The agreements specify "within the last eight days" of November and June.

Next payment, November 2026. According to the CCQ: direct deposit on November 25, 2026, into the account on file as of October 25, 2026; cheques mailed starting November 25, 2026, to the address on file if the change was made by October 25, 2026; payment notices and semi-annual statements gradually available online from November 6, 2026, under "Mon dossier", then "Mes documents".

What effect on payroll and labour cost?

The vacation pay comes on top of wages: it represents 13% of the wages earned, credited each week, and it does not go through the worker's paycheque, since it is paid by the CCQ. For the employer, this means calculating the 13% each week, declaring it with the monthly report and keeping a record of it for each employee. To budget this cost along with other charges, the true cost of an employee calculator and the 2026 CCQ rate table give you a starting point.

If an employer does not remit the amounts to the CCQ, they appear in the "Non perçus" (not collected) box of the semi-annual statement. The worker can then file a wage complaint. To be eligible for the Fund for compensation in the event of employer insolvency, the complaint must be filed within the 60-day deadline set by regulation. If there is an error on the statement, the CCQ invites the worker to contact their employer first, who can make the corrections.

SubmitX calculates payroll for employees subject to the CCQ from timesheets (see the features and our CCQ payroll guide). Whatever tool you use, compare the amounts with the CCQ statement.

What is the difference between mandatory leave and statutory holidays?

Mandatory annual leave closes job sites for four weeks a year. Statutory holidays are individual days: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, National Patriots' Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day and Christmas, plus the Fête nationale on June 24 for all employees. For 2025-2029, New Year's Day and Christmas fall within the holiday season leave. According to the CCQ, a statutory holiday is paid out of the 5.5% vacation pay.

Working on a statutory holiday counts as overtime, which is voluntary except for emergency work (see our article on CCQ overtime). The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, is not a statutory holiday under the 2025-2029 agreements. For the Fête nationale, the CCQ refers to the CNESST.

Can you work during the construction holiday?

In principle, no: no person covered by the agreement may perform work or have work performed during the weeks of mandatory annual leave. The exceptions, according to the agreements and the CCQ's reminder sheets:

• Emergency work: the employer can call back an employee who agrees, paid at their wage rate plus 100%. The employer reports it to the CCQ.
• Repair and maintenance: an employee who agrees receives at least 40 hours of pay per week, at their wage rate, subject to daily and weekly limits (a few trades, such as refrigeration mechanics and elevator mechanics, have separate rules).
• Renovation or alteration: a job site agreement between the employees and the employer to move the leave period; the CCQ must be notified without delay (in institutional-commercial and industrial, the majority union group too).
• New light residential construction: the employer notifies its employees of its intention to continue work no later than June 1 for the summer, or November 1 for the holiday season. The employee has 48 hours to accept, refuse or answer later.

The details vary by sector: read the matching reminder sheet (links in the sources, updated by the CCQ on January 29, 2026).

Frequently asked questions

What are the dates of the 2026 and 2027 construction holidays?

Summer 2026: from Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. to Saturday, August 1, 2026 at midnight. Holidays 2026-2027: from December 20, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. to January 2, 2027 at midnight. In 2027, the summer period runs from July 25 at 12:01 a.m. to August 7, 2027 at midnight.

When does the CCQ pay out vacation pay?

Twice a year: at the end of June for amounts credited from July to December of the previous year, and at the end of November for amounts credited from January to June. For November 2026, the CCQ announces a direct deposit on November 25, 2026 and cheques mailed starting November 25, 2026.

Is the 13% vacation pay paid on every paycheque?

No. The employer credits 13% of the wages earned each week (6% for mandatory annual leave, 5.5% for statutory holidays, 1.5% for sick leave) and remits these amounts to the CCQ with its monthly report. The CCQ then pays the vacation pay to the worker.

Can you work during the construction holiday?

In principle, no: job sites must be closed. Emergency, repair and maintenance work is permitted. Renovation or alteration work is handled through a job site agreement, and new light residential construction follows a notice procedure by the employer. Emergency work is paid at the wage rate plus 100%.

Sources

Official pages consulted on October 13, 2026. The collective agreement that applies to your job site prevails in case of any difference.

• CCQ: Construction leave and holidays (dates, statutory holidays)
• CCQ: 2026 construction holiday
• CCQ: Vacation pay
• CCQ: Statutory holidays, frequently asked questions
• Institutional and commercial collective agreement, section XIX (annual leave, statutory holidays, vacation pay)
• Residential collective agreement, section 24 (annual leave and statutory holidays)
• Civil engineering and roadwork collective agreement, section XX (annual leave)
• CCQ: summer leave reminder sheet, institutional-commercial and industrial (PDF)
• CCQ: summer leave reminder sheet, residential (PDF)
• CCQ: summer leave reminder sheet, civil engineering and roadwork (PDF)

Last checked: October 13, 2026.