Leave Laws
Last updated on July 25, 2026.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Algeria
Vacation Leave Quota
30 days
Employees in Algeria are entitled to 30 days of paid vacation. This statutory vacation leave is accrued at a rate of 2.5 days per month over a 12-month period.
Some employees may be eligible for more than the regular 30 days of leave, depending on their employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. Also, employees working in the Algerian southern provinces receive 10 extra days of vacation (40 days of vacation leave in total).
In Algeria, the standard leave cycle runs from July 1 to June 30, beginning on the employment start date for new hires.
It is illegal to reject or give up vacation leave rights or encash it.
Employees who work on statutory holidays are entitled to one additional day off.
Carryover
Carryover is generally prohibited in Algeria. Postponing leave to the next year is permitted only in exceptional cases (for example, service necessity). If a company agrees to postpone them, carried-over days must generally be taken within 18 months of earning them, or within 5 years, which is the maximum expiration period.
PTO Payout at the Termination
Accrued but unused annual leave must be paid out on termination. Severance pay is available to employees who have worked at the employer for at least two years.
Sick Leave in Algeria
15 days with half salary; full salary from the 16th day and onwards.
Employees in Algeria are entitled to partially paid sick leave. Employers must pay for sick leave days starting from the first day of sickness, but they are reimbursed by Social Security.
Sick Pay for Employees
Sick pay is:
The first 15 days of leave: half the standard salary;
From day 16 and onward: full salary.
Also, if the employee is hospitalized, they receive their full salary.
Funding of Sick Pay
Reimbursement of medical costs and sick pay are financed by the Algerian National Fund of Social Security. This is collected and funded by obligatory social contributions from both the employee and the employer.
Maternity, Paternity, and Parental Leave
Employees who are eligible are entitled to fully or partially paid: maternity, paternity, and parental leave.
Maternity Leave in Algeria
14 weeks of fully paid leave.
Female employees in Algeria are entitled to 14 weeks of entirely paid maternity leave. They must begin their leave at least one week before their expected date of birth or hospital admission.
Eligibility
Employees within their initial six months of work engagement are entitled to maternity benefits if they have been employed at least 9 days or 60 hours in 3 months before leave, or at least 36 days or 240 hours during the last 12 months.
Payout
Employees receive a daily allowance equivalent to their regular salary during 14 weeks of maternity leave. Female employees also receive complete coverage of medical benefits and hospitalization expenses for up to eight days.
Paternity Leave in Algeria
3 days of fully paid leave.
Male employees and workers are entitled to 3 days of fully paid paternity leave when their wives give birth. (This leave in Algeria is officially called emergency leave.) Employees must submit a written notification to their supervisor to benefit from this leave.
Payout
The employer pays for paternity leave in Algeria.
Parental Leave in Algeria
18 weeks of partially paid leave (50% of their regular salary).
A working female with a newborn child is entitled to take part-time paid parental leave (part of the usual working day or week) for up to 18 weeks, during which they receive 50% of their regular salary.
Bereavement Leave in Algeria
3 days
An employee who has suffered the death of a parent, a child, a spouse, or a sibling (brother/sister, but it also applies to a sibling from his or her spouse) is entitled to 3 days of paid leave.
Jury Duty Leave in Algeria
Not specified by law. The standard citizen jury system does not exist; therefore, there is no “jury duty leave” analogous to US or UK legislation.
Military Leave in Algeria
Unpaid leave
A conscripted employee is entitled to unpaid leave for the duration of service and must be reinstated in his position after completing it. In practice, this leave is rarely mid-career: men who haven’t completed national service are barred from public and private employment, so most serve before entering the workforce.
Voting Leave in Algeria
1 day of paid leave
Employees in Algeria are given a paid day off to vote during major national elections. This rule covers both public and private sector employees.
Marriage Leave in Algeria
3 days
Employees are entitled 3 days of paid leave for their own marriage.
Public Holidays in Algeria
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year |
| January 12 | Amazigh New Year |
| Movable (*): 1–3 Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr (The end of Ramadan) |
| May 1 | Worker’s Day |
| Movable (*): 10–13 Dhu al-Hijjah | Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice Feast) |
| Jul 5 | Independence Day |
| Movable (*): 1 Muharram (The first day of the Islamic calendar) | Islamic New Year |
| Movable (*): The 10th day of the month of Muharram | Ashura |
| Movable (*): Rabi’ al-Awwal 12 | The Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid) |
| November 1 | Revolution Day |
(*) - NOTA BENE: Dates are movable every year according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
Christian workers may celebrate their own holidays: Easter Monday (the day after Easter Sunday), Ascension Day (39 days after Easter), Assumption Day (15 August or Sunday, nearest to August 15), and Christmas.
Jewish workers may benefit and celebrate their own holidays: Roch Achana, Youm Kippour, and Pisah.
Sources
-
Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/algeria
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Payroll and Benefits Guide Algeria, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/algeria/
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Definitive Guide to Hiring in Algeria, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/algeria
Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in various countries.
This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For current and accurate guidance, please consult legal counsel in your jurisdiction.
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