Where employee benefits are important, it is important for both employers and employees to know the law of leaves in Egypt. Moreover, these laws govern how much paid and unpaid leave employees should have, towards ensuring a balanced working environment. In this blog, as per Egypt’s Paid Time Off (PTO) policy we will discuss holiday pay, and other types of leave benefits that employees.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Egypt
• Vacation Leave Quota
In Egypt, full-time employees under the age of 50 gets 21 days of paid get-away leave per year. In any case, to qualify for this benefit, an employee must have completed one full year of benefit with the boss. So, if the employee has worked for over six continuous months but less than a year, the calculation of their vacation days are proportionally based on the months worked.
For other staff members, the leave entitlement for vacation is more liberal. Employees who have completed over 10 years of service with 30 days of paid vacation leaves in Egypt per year. Also, the same leaves applies to the employee above 50 years of age. Overall, the condition met first by either of these two criteria decides the entitlement.
• Vacation Taking Rules
When going on vacation leaves in Egypt, the employee must formally apply and get permission from his or her employer. Further, vacation days that are not used cannot be roll over or paid for unless specifically authorized by the employer. In addition, the law mandates that a to take minimum of six days of vacation leave continuously so that the employee can thoroughly disconnect from work. Overall these rules keeps an accountable data.
• Casual Leave
On top of vacation leave, employees can enjoy a maximum of six days of casual leaves in Egypt annually. Also, casual leave may be availed of without having to state the purpose, and this counts under the general vacation leave. Still, there’s a caveat: they can use not more than two consecutive days. Overall, this category of leave intends to cover unexpected personal affairs.
Sick Leave in Egypt
Egyptian employees subjects to a maximum of six months of leaves in Egypt in case of sickness, with the compensation based on the length of the leave:
- Up to 90 days: Workers get 75% of their normal salary.
- 91 to 180 days: Payment rises to 85% of the normal salary.
- More than 180 days: Employees get no pay after this point.
Further, employees have to submit an official medical certificate to substantiate their sick leave. Moreover of interest, employees have the option to utilize their available vacation days as sick leave, if necessary.
• Work-Related Injury Leave
In instances of on-the-job injuries, employees are eligible for paid sick leaves in Egypt (100% of normal pay) from the first day of their injury. Moreover, this provision guarantees that employees are able to heal without worrying about finances.
Maternity and Paternity Leaves in Egypt
• Maternity Leaves in Egypt
Egyptian maternity leave is one of the better policies in the country. Employees gets 90 days of full pay maternity leave as per Article 91, if they have worked for a minimum of 10 months by the employer. Further, the leaves in Egypt takes effect 45 days prior to the expected delivery date, and employees gets to take at least 45 days off post-delivery.
Although the Egyptian social security system pays 75% of the salary for maternity leave, the employer cover remaining 25%. Nevertheless, it’s common practice for employers to pay 100% of the employee’s salary.
• Paternity Leaves in Egypt
Unlike maternity leave, paternity leave is not obligatory by law in Egypt. So, employers might, however, grant paternity leave on a case-by-case basis.
• Parental Leaves in Egypt
Mothers can cover up to 24 months (2 years) of unpaid leave to care for their children. This type of leave is available only to employees working for companies that employ 50 or more people. Overall mothers may take parental leave up to two times during their employment.
Other Types of Leaves in Egypt
• Bereavement Leave
In the sad case of a family death, Egyptian staff can utilize their casual leave to take care of bereavement requirements. Further Egyptian employers decide whether or not to offer bereavement leave based on their discretion, as there is no legal definition of bereavement leave in Egypt.
• Jury Duty and Voting Leave
Egyptian law does not prescribe jury leave, nor do they provide voting leaves. Nonetheless, employees can take a leave of absence from work when vital for civic or personal obligations, subject to their employer’s approval.
• Military Leave
Leaves in Egypt during military service is mandatory by statute in Egypt. Employees who are called for military service gets leave for the period of the service. Employers must place the employee back in the pre-service position on return from the service. Also, contract employees whose employment contracts expire while they are under military service apply to be reimbursement within 30 days. The duration is accessible to their termination of military service.
Egypt's Public Holidays
Egyptian public holidays are as per the Gregorian calendar and Islamic lunar calendar. Taking after is the list of official public holidays for 2025:
- 7 January: Coptic Christmas Day
- 25 January: Revolution Day
- 30 March to 1 April: Eid al-Fitr
- 21 April: Sham EL- Nessim
- 25 April: Sinai Liberation Day
- 1 May: Labour Day
- 5 June: Arafat Day
- June 6 to June 9: Eid al-Adha
- 26 June: El Hijra (New Islamic Year)
- June 30: June Revolution Day
- July 23: Revolution Day
- September 4: Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
- October 6: Armed Forces Day
As in most nations, the government can choose to exchange public occasions that happen on weekends to another working day. Also they can devout holidays that are according to the lunar calendar, so their dates move yearly. Moreover, managers can make their employees work on public holidays but need to provide double compensation for the time worked.
Conclusion
Knowledge of leave law in Egypt is critical for both workers and managers to ensure their workplace rights. Thus, from debilitated and excursion take off to maternity and military leave, Egypt’s labor laws are there to balance the interface. This helps employers to manage an account with those of workers. Overall, it should moreover be famous that Egypt has provisions for public holidays and different types of leaves in Egypt. For this workers and managers should remain aware of their rights and responsibilities.
So, with all enactment relating to employment, these leave approaches are susceptible to change, and it is hence important to keep side by side of the latest law.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Employees in Egypt are entitled with the diverse types of leaves such as sick leave, casual leave, vacation leave, paternity leave, maternity leave and more.
Leaves in Egypt offers the criteria for the 21 days of annual paid leaves for employees serving at least for last six months. Employees with age of 50+ and service of 10 years are entitled to 30 days.
Public holidays in Egypt include Revolution Day, Eid al-Fitr, June revolution Day and Armed Forces Day.
