Somalia Leave Laws & Holidays

Last updated on August 12, 2026.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Somalia

Vacation (Annual Leave) Quota

15 days

Employees in Somalia get 15 days of paid vacation for each year of continuous service.

Some employees may be entitled to more vacation days if they work under collective bargaining agreements (CBA) or specific employment contracts.

This vacation time builds up over the course of the year. Employees earn the right to paid leave after working continuously for a full year. This can be accumulated up to a maximum of two years.

Usually, both the employer and employee agree on when to take this vacation.

Vacation leave is given in addition to public holidays.

Sick Leave in Somalia

Somalia leave laws are different for private and public sector employees.

Private Sector Employees

14 days

There is no specific law for paid sick leave for private sector employees, which means the period of sick leave and payment vary. But, typically, employees are entitled to 7 days of fully paid sick leave (100%), followed by another 7 days of sick leave with half pay (50%).

Employees must provide a medical certificate after being on sick leave for a specific number of days.

To be eligible for this sick leave, an employee must work for the same employer for at least 2 consecutive months.

Public Sector Employees

The following rules apply to employees working in the public sector:

1. Every employee gets one day of paid sick leave every 45 days of work without needing a doctor’s note. Any extra days without a doctor’s notes will be taken from the employee’s vacation days quota.
2. If an employee is hospitalized for more than one day, a doctor’s note is needed to excuse the absence.
3. If sick leave exceeds 15 days, the extra days are deducted from the employee’s vacation days.
4. If an employee is ill or injured and misses work for less than three months, the employer must: -Pay the employee’s medical bills; -Pay the full salary for the first month; -Pay half the salary for the next two months.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Somalia

14 weeks

The Labor Code

Maternity protection of Somalia leave laws applies both to:

• employees working in the private sector;
• employees working in the public sector and public institutions.

However, the law does not apply to members of the armed forces, police, or any other para-military forces.

Dismissal due to pregnancy or maternity leave is prohibited.

Duration

Working pregnant women are entitled to 14 weeks of partially paid leave. (Note that some sources indicate that paid maternity leave is not striclty required by law and is up to an employer’s policy)

This leave consists of:

• prenatal leave (before birth);

• postnatal leave following childbirth or the birth of a child, which must last at least 6 weeks.

If childbirth occurs later than expected, maternity leave is extended until the exact delivery date.

Certification

A pregnant employee must provide their employer with an official medical certificate showing the anticipated date of childbirth.

Payout

Employees on maternity leave can get maternity benefits (allowance) if they have worked for the employer for at least 6 continuous months, except for medical reasons.

Generally, employees receive 50% of their regular salary on maternity leave. (Some sources claim full pay - 100% of salary, so check official or offline legal materials).

Paternity Leave in Somalia

2 weeks

Paternity leave is not strictly defined by Somalia leave laws, but typically an employee who becomes a father is entitled to 2 weeks of paid leave. To confirm the child’s birth, the father is required to submit a medical certificate to his employer.

Bereavement Leave in Somalia

3 days

The law concerning bereavement leave applies both to private and public sector employees.

Employees are entitled to 3 days of leave for family responsibility in the following events:

– The death of a parent

– The death of a child

– The death of the employee’s spouse

To be eligible for bereavement leave, an employee must have worked for at least 6 continuous months in the company.

Jury Duty Leave in Somalia

Not identified in publicly available online sources. Please consult official or offline legal materials.

Military Leave in Somalia

Military leave is not specified by Somalia leave laws.

Voting Leave in Somalia

Military leave is not specified by law. Somalia hasn’t held direct national elections since 1969.

Public Holidays in Somalia

11 national holidays: 5 to Gregorian and 6 to Islamic lunar calendar

On national and public holidays, each regular worker and employee is entitled to paid leave.

A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Somalia:

(*) - Dates are movable every year according to the Islamic lunar calendar and are approved as the date of the holiday approaches.

Sources

1. Somalia Employer of Record & Payroll https://africa-deployments.com/employer-of-record/somalia/,
2. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Somalia, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/somalia

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