Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 restructured annual leave, and the first-year entitlement changed.
The scale
- First year of employment: 15 days — reduced from 21 days under the old law
- From the second year: 21 days — unchanged
- 30 days for employees who have served 10 years with the same or more employers, or who have reached the age of 50
Note that the 30-day band has two independent triggers: ten years of service or reaching 50.
Public holidays
Employees may now choose between receiving overtime pay for work on public holidays, or taking a compensatory day off.
If you choose the day off, it must be requested in writing and recorded in your employment file.
The old law only allowed overtime payment, with no substitute-day option.
Rest days
If work takes place on a rest day, the worker is entitled to an additional day's wage as compensation, and the employer must grant an alternative rest day within the following week.
Both, not one or the other.
The twelve-hour limit
The total time a worker spends at the workplace must not exceed twelve hours, except under exceptional circumstances justified by additional work or the time needed to complete a task.
Maternity protections
Alongside the maintained prohibition on terminating during maternity leave, the new law prohibits termination immediately after her return from that leave, unless the employer proves the action was for a legitimate reason.
What constitutes a legitimate reason is not clarified in the law.
Childcare leave
Matched to the Childcare Law: a maximum of three times throughout the employee's years of service, provided the employee has been employed at least one year and the interval between childcare leaves is not less than two years.
Paternity leave
Male employees are now entitled to emergency paid leave on the day of the birth of their child, which is not deducted from the annual leave balance, up to a maximum of three times.
Minimum working age
15, with limited exceptions for internships at 14 provided education continues.
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do I get?
Fifteen days in the first year, 21 days from the second, and 30 days for those with 10 years of service or who have reached the age of 50.
What changed about the first year?
It was reduced from 21 days to 15 days under the new law.
Can I take a day off instead of overtime on a public holiday?
Yes, that is new. But the day off must be requested in writing and recorded in your employment file.
What if I work on a rest day?
You are entitled to an additional day’s wage as compensation and an alternative rest day within the following week — both, not one or the other.
Is there paternity leave?
Yes. Emergency paid leave on the day of the birth, not deducted from your annual leave balance, up to a maximum of three times.