Argentina set for July long weekend with holiday and bridge day

Argentinians can look forward to an extended weekend in July, thanks to a combination of a national holiday and a government-designated "bridge" day. The upcoming break is generating anticipation for travel and time with loved ones, offering a respite from work commitments.

The core of the long weekend is the commemoration of Argentina's Independence Day on July 9. This date, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1816, is a fixed public holiday. The event took place during the Congress of Tucumán, where representatives declared sovereignty from Spain.

Adding to the holiday, the government has declared Friday, July 10, as a non-working "bridge" day. This is one of three such days the government can designate annually for tourism purposes. By strategically placing this day adjacent to the fixed Independence Day holiday, it creates a consecutive four-day weekend for many citizens.

For those who work on July 9, the national holiday, labor laws stipulate that they must be paid double their regular daily wage, similar to Sunday work regulations. The rules for the "bridge" day on July 10, however, are different, as these non-working days are generally optional for employers.