Last updated on February 8, 2024.

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Nota bene: The Republic of the Congo, with its capital Brazzaville, whose laws we cover in this article, distinguishes itself from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (capital Kinshasa).

DR Congo leave laws are covered in a separate section of our blog.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in the Republic of the Congo

Vacation Quota (Annual Leave)

26 days

Employees in the Republic of the Congo are entitled to a statutory minimum of 26 working days of paid vacation leave.

Employees become entitled to this leave after one full year (or two years, depending on the contract) of service for the employer.

Sick Leave in Congo

Up to 6 months.

Employees have the right to take up to six months of unpaid sick leave.

To have an authorized leave, an employee must provide a certified doctor’s note that confirms their illness.

Maternity and Paternity Leave in the Congo

Maternity Leave in the Congo

15 weeks

Pregnant female employees in Congo are entitled to 15 weeks of half-paid maternity leave.

This includes:

• 9 months before childbirth, and

• 6 months after childbirth.

Maternity leave can be extended by 3 weeks in cases of illness resulting from pregnancy or childbirth.

Payout

An employee has a right to social security compensation during her maternity leave that is equal to half of her salary. This can be paid monthly or in full at the end of the leave. However, if an employer has maintained her full or partial salary for an employee throughout her maternity leave, this allowance is reimbursed.

The social security system (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale, CNSS) covers the costs of childbirth and any medical expenses incurred as a result of illness during pregnancy or childbirth.

Paternity Leave in the Congo

2 days

Employees who become fathers of a newborn child are entitled to 2 mandatory days of paid paternity leave.

Bereavement Leave in the Congo

There is no law defining bereavement leave.

Jury Duty Leave in the Congo

There is no legal definition of jury duty leave.

Military Leave in the Congo

There is no law defining military leave.

Voting Leave in Congo

There is no law defining voting leave.

Public Holidays in the Congo

10 public holidays

The Republic of Congo observes 10 national holidays, with additional holidays that may vary by state. They are mostly based on the Christian religious calendar, with some of them (Easter Monday, Ascension Day, and Whit Monday) changing each year according to the date of Easter. It’s mandatory for employers to recognize these holidays every year, irrespective of their specific dates.

A complete list of official holidays in the Republic of the Congo:

Sources

1. Compensation & Benefits in Republic of the Congo., https://www.globalization-partners.com/globalpedia/republic-of-the-congo/compensation-benefits/

2. Republic of Congo, ROC Employer of Record & Payroll, https://africa-deployments.com/employer-of-record/republic-of-the-congo/

Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in various countries.