Who Gets Time Off During an Asueto in Paraguay?

The news says tomorrow is an asueto. So, can you sleep in? Is school closed too? And what about your appointment at a government office? It depends.

An asueto means certain employees get time off for a few hours or the entire day. Unlike a public holiday, that doesn’t automatically apply to everyone. What matters is who declared the asueto and who it covers.

Who Is Covered by an Asueto?

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Under Paraguay’s Law 7544/2025, the government (Poder Ejecutivo) can grant employees of the central public administration and decentralized state agencies time off through an official order (decree). This can last a few hours or the entire day.

That doesn’t mean work stops everywhere. Private businesses aren’t automatically covered by this kind of asueto. Schools, banks, and certain public services may also have separate arrangements.

An asueto doesn’t have to apply nationwide, either. A city or town government (Municipalidad) can declare a local asueto (asueto distrital). Others apply only to specific institutions.

Two Real-Life Examples

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➤ Before Easter: On Wednesday, April 1, the government declared an asueto under Decree 5694/2026 for the central public administration and decentralized state agencies across the country. The order came from the national government and affected much of the public administration.

Essential services continued, including emergency medical care and border checks.

Private businesses weren’t automatically covered by this government-declared asueto. Banks issued separate notices about their opening hours.

Holy Thursday and Good Friday, on the other hand, were already public holidays.

➤ In Encarnación: For the city’s anniversary on March 25, the Municipalidad declared an asueto distrital. It also invited private institutions, banks, industry, and businesses to take part. Participation was voluntary for the invited private businesses. They could decide whether to join in or stay open as usual.

How Do You Know if It Applies to You?

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To avoid showing up at a government office that’s closed or finding out at the last minute that your kids have no school, it’s worth checking a few things before an asueto:

• Who declared the asueto? The government, your local Municipalidad, or an individual institution?
• Who does it apply to? The decree or official announcement usually spells this out. The responsible authorities often also share updates on their social media channels or through local news.
• How does it affect you? If you’re unsure, it’s best to ask directly. That way, you’ll know whether school is in session, whether your employer is participating, or whether your appointment at the government office is still on.