How many paid annual leave days do I get under the Labour Code?
Quick answer
- You are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of paid annual leave per year.
- This minimum is guaranteed by the Labour Code for any full-time employee.
- Extra days may be granted through the collective or individual employment contract.
- Leave accrues in proportion to the time actually worked during the year.
- Cash compensation for unused leave is allowed only when the contract ends.
What the law says
- Art. 145 Labour Code: a minimum of 20 working days of annual leave per year.
- The actual duration is set above the legal minimum via the collective and individual contracts.
- Annual leave is, as a rule, taken in kind, not paid out in cash.
- Cash compensation is permitted only upon termination of the employment contract.
- Public holidays and paid days off are not counted within the annual leave duration.
Practical examples
- Example: a full-time employee is entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of annual leave per year.
- Example: via a collective agreement, a company grants 21 days for 0-5 years of service and 25 days over 10 years.
- Example: an employee who worked only 6 months receives about 10 days, proportional to the period worked.
- Example: on resignation, the 5 unused leave days are paid out as compensation in the final settlement.
Common mistakes
- Confusing working days with calendar days — the minimum is 20 working days.
- Paying out unused leave instead of granting it, even though the contract is still active.
- Counting public holidays within the 20 days, unlawfully reducing the real leave.
- Losing unused days at year-end, with no carry-over or compensation at termination.
How 4softhr helps
- 4softhr keeps a digital record of each employee's leave balance and automatically computes the remaining days.
- It applies the proportionality rule automatically for staff joining or leaving mid-year.
- It enables online leave requests with an approval workflow and instant balance updates.
- It alerts managers about unused days at risk of being lost at year-end.
- It syncs leave planning with time tracking and personnel files across the 4b2b ecosystem.