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Tunisia Leave Laws & Holidays

Paid Time Off, Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Bereavement Leave, Jury Duty Leave, Military Leave, and Voting Leave

Table Of Contents

Last updated on January 19, 2024.

Public Holidays in Tunisia for 2024

12 public holidays

Employees have the right to paid time off on legal national holidays.

Date Holiday
January 1, Moday New Year
March 20, Wednesday Independence Day
April 9 Martyrs’ Day
April 10, 11 & 12 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
May 1, Wednesday Labor Day
June 16 & 17 Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
July 7 Islamic New Year
July 25 Republic Day
August 13 Women’s Day
September 15 Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
October 15 Evacuation Day
December 17 Revolution and Youth Day

PTO

An employee is entitled to at least 21 consecutive days of paid annual leave. National and religious holidays are not included. Collective agreements must provide at least one day of annual leave on full remuneration for every 17 days on which the employee worked or was entitled to be paid.

The Labour Code provides for annual leave to all employees on completion of at least one month of service. Employees are entitled to 01-day leave per month with a total duration of 15 calendar days (12 working days) of annual leave. The duration of annual leave for employees under 18 years of age cannot exceed 30 calendar days (24 working days) at the rate of two working days per month. The duration of annual leave for employees aged 18- 21 years cannot exceed 21 calendar days (18 working days) at the rate of one and a half working days per month.

Annual leave also increases with the length of service. The increase in annual leave is 01 day of extra leave for every 05 years of continuous service with the same employer to a maximum of 18 days of annual leave.

  • Use-it-or-lose-it policy 

The annual leave period should be granted between 1 June and 31 October or in another period as determined by collective or individual agreement or by the employer. Labour Code allows for splitting of annual leave however the minimum duration specified in 6 working days.

  • PTO payout at the termination

If the employment contract expires before a worker could acquire the right to annual leave, compensation for leave is made except when the termination of the employment contract is caused by the gross negligence of the employee.

Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Parental Leave

Maternity Leave

The total maternity leave should last at least 14 weeks, of which a period of six weeks compulsory leave should be after childbirth.

During pregnancy and maternity leave, an employee should be entitled to medical and midwife care without any additional cost.

During pregnancy and maternity leave, an employee should be protected from dismissal or any other discriminatory treatment.

Employees have the right to return to the same or equivalent position after availing of maternity leave. Female employees are entitled to 30 days of paid maternity leave on the birth of a child. In case of illness or complications arising due to pregnancy and confinement, a female employee is entitled to 15 days extra leave. Leaves are granted on the provision of the medical certificate.

Paternity Leave

Private sector employees are entitled to 10 days of paternity leave, which must be availed within 7 days of the child’s birth. The leave must be taken after an agreement between the worker and employer. The paternity leave is paid by the Government through Social Security Institution.

Sick Leave, Paid Sick Leave, and Family Care Leave

The national labor law may provide that sickness benefit may not be paid during the first 3 days of your absence. Minimally, an employee should be entitled to an income during the first 6 months of illness. This income should be at least 45 percent of the minimum wage.

During illness, an employee should be entitled to medical care without any additional cost. Employees and their family members should have access to the necessary minimal medical care at an affordable cost.

During the first 6 months of illness, an employee should not be fired.

Benefits due to an Occupational Injury

If an employee is disabled due to an occupational disease or accident, he/she must receive a higher benefit. In the case of temporary or total incapacity/disability, the employee may at least be provided 50% of his average wage while in the case of fatal injury, the survivors may be provided with 40% of the deceased employee’s average wage in periodical payments.

Jury Duty Leave and Voting Leave (Leave due to Public Interest)

Not specified by law.

Bereavement Leave

Not specified by law.

Military Leave

Not Specified by law.

Please consult your local legal counsel to learn more about Tunisia Leave Laws.

To learn more about laws in various countries, check out our Leave Laws page.

All materials have been prepared for general information purposes only to permit you to learn more about this region's leave laws. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, and may not be current. Please contact your local legal counsel to learn more about the leave laws in your country.

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