Leave Policies In Different Countries Around The Globe

Every nation establishes a minimum requirement for legally mandated paid annual leave. Refer to this compilation to ensure adherence and assist your international team in their time-off needs. Explore leave policies in different countries around the globe. Ensure compliance with statutory annual leave regulations for your global team.

Annual leave, often paid vacation, represents a valuable and appealing employee benefit, entitling employees to paid time off. According to labour laws, companies must provide a specific number of paid vacation days to full-time employees. Though the exact count differs from one country to another. For instance, within the European Union, employers provide employees with at least four weeks of paid leave. While Mexican employees receive six days.

Certain private-sector firms go beyond these requirements, offering extended vacation leaves as part of their competitive benefits package.

This comprehensive guide presents the legally mandated minimum annual leave for 76 countries worldwide. Whether you’re a company expanding into a new country or an employee contemplating a move, this resource provides essential insights into paid leave policies.

How do leave policies in different countries impact global workforce management?

Leave policies in different countries can significantly affect global workforce management by influencing absenteeism rates, employee satisfaction, and the ability to attract and retain talent across international borders. Understanding and adapting to these variations is crucial for successful global HR and talent management. Let us explore the leave policies in different countries.

Albania

In Albania, employers grant employees four weeks of paid annual leave, which employees can carry over until the end of March of the following year. If unused, the leave expires.

Argentina

In Argentina, the length of your paid annual leave depends on your tenure at the company:

• 6 months to 5 years: 14 days
• Up to 10 years: 21 days
• 10 to 20 years: 28 days
• 20+ years: 35 days of paid leave

Australia

Annual leave, also referred to as holiday pay, enables employees to receive compensation while being on leave from work. Both full-time and part-time workers have the entitlement of 4 weeks of annual leave for every 12 months of employment. The accumulation of leave begins on the employee’s first day of work. As soon as employees earn their accrued leave, they can take it.

Austria

Austrian workers enjoy 25 days of paid annual leave per year. After completing 25 years of service, they can receive 30 weeks of paid leave.

Brazil

After completing one year of employment in Brazil, employees receive the entitlement of 30 days of paid annual leave.

Belarus

Employees have the right to a minimum of 24 days of paid annual leave each year. Typically, employees should take this annual leave as a single block. However, with the employee’s agreement, they can split it into a maximum of two parts, with one part requiring at least 14 calendar days.

Belgium

In Belgium, the allocation of annual leave varies based on the type of employment. Full-time employees in Belgium typically receive 4 weeks of annual leave, but the method for calculating the number of leave days and holiday pay differs for different categories, including blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, apprentices, individuals in the arts sector, and civil servants.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina receive 20 days of paid annual leave, with additional leave granted to minors and employees in high-risk or health-harming occupations.

Bulgaria

Employees in Bulgaria receive 20 business days of paid annual leave after working for an employer for at least eight months.

Canada

In Canada, the government ensures your first paid leave after one year of service, although most employers provide some paid time off from the start. The duration of your leave increases with your tenure:

• One to five years: two weeks off
• Five to ten years: three weeks off
• 10 or more years: four weeks off

Croatia

Workers with at least 6 consecutive months of employment have the right to a minimum of 18 working days of paid annual leave per year. In cases where an employee has experienced a gap of more than eight days between two jobs, they become eligible for annual leave after completing 6 consecutive months of service.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers four weeks of paid annual leave, and the exact number of days depends on your weekly workdays:

• 20 days for a five-day workweek
• 24 days for a six-day workweek

Czech Republic

Employees in the Czech Republic enjoy 20 days of paid annual leave. In the Czech Republic, employees have a minimum annual holiday entitlement of four weeks. Depending on their profession, some employees, like those in public service, may be eligible for a greater holiday entitlement, such as five weeks.

Cambodia

In Cambodia, employees with three years of work experience have the entitlement to 18 days of annual leave. And get an additional day for each subsequent year.

Chile

Employees in Chile receive 15 paid days off after a year with the same company, which equals 1.25 days per month.

China

In China, employees become eligible for paid leave after one year of service. Employees have the entitlement to five days of leave annually for their first ten years, ten days after a decade, and 15 days after two decades.

Colombia

Colombian employees have the right to 15 business days of paid annual leave, with a requirement to take at least six consecutive business days off.

Costa Rica

Employees in Costa Rica can take two weeks of paid annual leave for every 50 weeks of work. Individuals with less than 50 weeks of employment have the entitlement to one day off per month.

Denmark

In Denmark, employees have the entitlement to 25 days of paid annual leave. An employee in Denmark has the right to enjoy five weeks of paid holiday annually. Your employer determines your holiday allowance, which is typically accrued at a rate of 12.5% of your salary. This equates to 2.08 days of holiday for each month of your employment.

Egypt

In Egypt, Employees who have maintained continuous employment for at least six months are eligible for 21 days of paid annual leave each year. Meanwhile, those who have achieved a decade of uninterrupted service or are over 50 years of age have the right to enjoy 30 days of paid annual leave.

Estonia

In Estonia, the annual leave policy mandates a minimum of 28 days of leave for all employees, and employers are not allowed to decrease this duration under any circumstances. The possibility of extending this leave beyond 28 days depends on the specifics outlined in the employment contract. However, minors and employees with physical challenges are entitled to a minimum of 35 days of annual leave each year.

France

In France, employees have the right to 25 days of paid annual leave. Depending on seniority, employees might also be eligible for holiday bonuses.

Finland

Employees in Finland have the right to 30 days of paid annual leave. Employers grant workers a total of four weeks of summer leave and one week of winter leave. Employees accumulate holiday days by working within the designated holiday credit year. This spans from 1st April to 31st March. During their holiday period, employees have the entitlement to receive holiday pay.

Georgia

In Georgia, the length of annual leave depends on the duration of employment:

• 15 days for the first five years
• 18 days between five and ten years
• 21 paid days off after ten years

Germany

German employees receive 20 days of paid leave, but many employers grant up to six weeks of paid time off.

Panama

The Labor Code and various labour-related regulations in Panama govern the country’s leave policy, encompassing all leave privileges and perks. As per the Labor Code, the annual leave spans 30 days per year. An employee becomes eligible for paid annual leave only after completing 11 months of service with a single employer.

Peru

In Peru, if you work with a company for over a year, you qualify for a 30-day vacation. Out of these, employees must take at least 15 days as paid leave, while they can exchange the remaining 15 for cash if they prefer.

Greece

Employees in Greece can take 20 to 22 days off per year, with the potential for 25 days after spending over a decade with the same company.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, employees with up to two years of service receive seven days of paid leave, with an additional day added for each subsequent year, up to 14 days for those working for nine or more years.

Hungary

Hungarian employees can take at least three weeks of paid holiday. Those working five days a week are entitled to 15 days off per year.

India

Indian employees are granted 18 days of paid annual leave per year, with the option to carry over up to 30 unused days to the following year.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, employees are entitled to 12 paid days off after a year of employment. After an initial four-month period, employees receive three-quarters of their salary for the subsequent four months. Following this period, the compensation rate decreases to half of their monthly salary for the next four months. In cases of extended sick leave exceeding 12 months, employers have the option to provide employees with 25 per cent of their salary until a replacement is found.

Ireland

In Ireland, employers must provide payment for four weeks of vacation to their employees. Employees working five days a week and meeting the requirement of at least 1,365 hours are entitled to four working weeks of annual leave, which translates to 20 days. Additionally, for each month in which an employee has worked at least 117 hours, they receive one-third of a working week as leave.

Israel

In Israel, the Annual Leave Law ensures that employees receive annual paid leave based on the following accumulation schedule, In the first four years of employment, employees are entitled to 14 days of leave. By the fifth year of employment, this entitlement increases to 16 days, and in the sixth year of employment, it further extends to 18 days.

Italy

Employees in Italy are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of paid annual leave. Failure to contribute to social security is against the law, and employers can be subject to penalties of up to EUR 50,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to three years. Regarding annual leave entitlements, employees in Italy are entitled to paid leave, which encompasses a minimum of four weeks of vacation and 12 paid public holidays annually.

Japan

In Japan, employees are granted 10 days of paid time off. For the first 2.5 years of service, one additional day is added each year, and after that, two additional days are added per year.

Kenya

Employees in Kenya receive 21 days of paid leave after working for the same company for over a year. In their first year, they get seven paid days off after completing two consecutive months of work.

Latvia

Latvian labour laws specify that every employee has the right to take four calendar weeks of paid annual leave. If the employee is under 18 years old, they can take a month off.

Lithuania

Lithuania’s labour act regulations safeguard the job security of employees who become temporarily unable to work due to injury or illness. Employees should maintain their job position if their absence does not exceed 120 consecutive days or a total of 140 days within the past 12 months.

Luxembourg

Employees in Luxembourg enjoy 25 days of paid leave annually. A salaried worker is eligible for annual leave accruing at a rate of one-twelfth per full month worked, equivalent to 2.167 days per month. This entitlement begins in the first year of employment and also applies if the employment contract concludes within the year. The leave can be used as a continuous block if desired.

Malta

If an employee works 40 hours a week in Malta, he has the right to 26 days of paid annual leave. Certainly, for an employee with a 40-hour workweek, their annual leave entitlement typically includes 192 hours of basic leave and an additional 24 hours. This totals 216 hours of paid annual leave, allowing them time off from work while still receiving their regular pay.

Mauritius

In Mauritius, employees have the right to 22 days of fully paid annual leave, comprising 20 regular annual leave days and an extra 2 days. Eligibility for this complete annual leave entitlement is achieved after completing 12 consecutive months of service with the company.

Montenegro

The duration of the annual leave in Montenegro depends on the employment length and type. If an employee works 36 hours a week under challenging conditions, he is entitled to 30 business days of paid leave. With a 40-hour workweek, they receive 20 days, and for six days a week, 24 days of paid leave.

Madagascar

Employees in Madagascar can take five paid days off for annual vacation. The employee gains the entitlement to paid leave, covered by the employer, accumulating at a rate of two and a half days for each calendar month of service, amounting to 30 days annually. This right to take leave is granted after 12 months of active service.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, employees receive eight days of paid leave with two years of service, 12 days with two to five years of employment, and 16 days with five or more years of tenure.

Mexico

The number of paid days off in Mexico is based on the length of service:

• 1 year: 6 paid days off
• 2 years: 8 paid days off
• 3 years: 10 paid days off
• 4 years: 12 paid days off
• Every 5 years after that, you gain two extra paid leave days.

Mongolia

Employees have the right to a standard annual leave period of 15 working days each year. However, if the employee is under 18 years of age, their regular holiday extends to 20 working days. Furthermore, an employee can choose to divide their annual leave into segments throughout the applicable year upon their request.

Nigeria

Employees in Nigeria have the right to an annual leave of six days every year. However, this entitlement is extended to 12 working days for younger workers under 16 years old, which includes apprentices. To qualify for annual leave, workers must have completed a minimum of 12 months of employment with an employer.

Netherlands

Full-time employees are guaranteed a minimum of 20 days of vacation. The holiday allowance, which amounts to 8% of the gross salary, is typically disbursed in May, calculated based on the earnings from the previous June. During the employee’s holiday period, the employer is required to sustain their salary.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, employees have the right to 28 days of paid annual leave. If you work regular hours for an employer in a full-time or part-time position, you have the right to a minimum of four weeks of paid annual holidays each year. This entitlement does not encompass public holidays or sick leave. Your annual leave balance is either granted in its entirety each year on the anniversary of your employment start date or.

Norway

It is customary for employers to provide their employees with five weeks of vacation, which amounts to 25 working days, along with a holiday pay equivalent to 12 per cent of the salary earned in the year preceding the vacation year. The entitlement to holiday pay is accumulated throughout the year leading up to the vacation year.

Philippines

Employees in the Philippines can take five days off each year, with the option to receive monetary compensation for unused leave.

Poland

In Poland, employees receive 20 days of paid leave if they have been with the company for up to 10 years. For longer tenures, the paid vacation entitlement extends to 26 days.

Portugal

Employees have the right to a minimum of 22 working days of annual leave each calendar year. They are allowed to utilize their vacation time until the 30th of April in the subsequent year. It is important to note that Portugal’s regulations explicitly prohibit employers from providing employees with extra compensation. In exchange for relinquishing their paid leave days.

Romania

According to the law, both full-time and part-time employees have the right to receive 20 days of annual paid leave, with the accrual being gradual and dependent on the hours worked. It’s worth noting that employers frequently provide more than this legally mandated minimum. Employees are only eligible to receive payment for any unused leave when their employment is terminated.

Russia

Workers have a right to 28 days of primary annual leave, during which they are entitled to receive their average earnings. If the main annual paid leave exceeds 28 calendar days, employees are provided with extended main leave in accordance with the existing Code and other federal laws.

Serbia

As an employee in Serbia, you are entitled to 20 business days of paid annual leave, and this number may increase based on years of service, your education level, and other factors.

Slovakia

Employees under 33 years of age are granted 4 weeks of annual leave, equivalent to 20 working days. Those above 33 years of age are entitled to 5 weeks of annual leave, which amounts to 25 working days. Workers with children are also eligible for 5 weeks of annual leave, or 25 working days. Certain professions, such as teachers, enjoy an extended annual leave period of 8 weeks.

Slovenia

Every employee is entitled to a minimum of four weeks of annual leave within a single calendar year, irrespective of whether they are engaged in full-time or part-time work.

South Africa

Employees are entitled to 21 consecutive days of annual leave with full pay for each annual leave cycle. This is equivalent to 15 working days if the employee has a five-day workweek or 18 working days for those with a six-day workweek.

South Korea

In South Korea, if employees have been with an employer for less than two years, they are entitled to 15 days of paid holiday. With over three years of employment, they gain an additional day every two years, up to a maximum of 25 days.

Spain

In Spain, the duration of your leave is contingent on your weekly work hours. If you work 36 hours each week, you receive 22 paid business days off, which increases to 23 days after a year with the same employer.

Sweden

After completing 12 months of service within the company, employees have the right to enjoy up to 25 days of paid annual leave. During the period from June to August, employees are entitled to take a consecutive four-week vacation. Unless exceptional circumstances necessitate alternative arrangements.

Switzerland

Employees working for a company based in Switzerland are granted 20 days of paid annual leave each year.

Singapore

In Singapore, employees with at least three months of service receive at least seven days of paid leave. Increasing by one day each year up to 14 days after eight years.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan employees are entitled to 14 days of paid time off after the first year of employment.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, tenure with the company determines the duration of the annual leave.

After six months of employment, employees receive a grant of three days of leave. After a year, it increases to seven days, and the number of days off progressively increases with seniority: 10 days after two years, 14 days after three years, 15 days after five years, and a maximum of 30 days after 10 years of service.

Thailand

People employed in Thailand can take six days off each year and get paid for them, although there are 16 public holidays, which are typically observed by banks and government offices.

Tunisia

Employees in Tunisia can take 12 paid days off per year after one year of service, with the potential for up to 21 days with additional years of service.

Turkey

In Turkey, if you’ve worked for less than five years, you are entitled to a minimum of 14 paid days off per year. After five years of service, this number increases to 20 days, and after 15 years of service, you receive 26 days of paid vacation.

United Arab Emirates

In the United Arab Emirates, employees have the entitlement to two paid days off per month after completing six months of work. Once they have worked for a company for a year, they become eligible for 30 days of annual leave.

Ukraine

Similar to many other European countries, Ukrainian employees have the right to 24 calendar days of annual leave, including weekends but excluding official holidays.

Uganda

Employees in Uganda can take 21 days of leave after one year of service, with an additional seven days for each four months worked.

United Kingdom

In the UK, the majority of employees who adhere to a 5-day workweek should be granted a minimum of 28 days of paid annual leave per year, which is equivalent to 5.6 weeks of holiday.

United States

In the United States, no federal law specifically requires employers to provide paid time off. However, many employees receive around 15 days of paid annual leave.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, employees are allowed to take 12 days off each year, with an additional paid holiday granted for every five years of service.

Conclusion

Leave policies around the globe exhibit a diverse landscape, reflecting the unique labour regulations and cultural values of each country. While some nations prioritize extended periods of annual leave, such as Brazil. In Brazil one year of service earns you 30 days of paid leave, others offer varying scales of time off based on the duration of employment. Understanding these distinctions is essential for both employees and employers, as it not only impacts work-life balance but also contributes to the overall well-being and productivity of the workforce. The wide range of leave policies serves as a testament to the intricate interplay between local labour practices, societal norms, and government regulations, highlighting the importance of adaptability and awareness in the global workforce.