Holidays

• 1st January – New Year’s Day

• 8th March – Women’s Day

• 12th March – Youth Day

• 2nd April – Good Friday

• 3rd April – Holy Saturday

• 5th April – Easter Monday

• 1st May – Labor Day

• 25th May – Africa Unity Day

• 2nd July – Memorial Service for Kenneth Kaunda

• 5th July – Heroes’ Day (First Monday in July)

• 6th July – Unity Day (Tuesday after Heroes’ Day)

• 7th July – Funeral of Kenneth Kaunda

• 2nd August – Farmers’ Day (First Monday in August)

• 18th October – National Prayer Day

• 24th October – Independence Day

• 25th October – Christmas Day

PTO

• Vacation/Annual Paid Leave

An employee is, after six months’ continuous service, entitled to a holiday with full pay at the rate of two days in respect of each period of one month’s service. The time when the vacation can be taken is up to an agreement between an employer and an employee.

The vacation will be in addition to any public holiday or weekly rest period, whether fixed by any law, agreement, or custom, in respect of which the employee is not required to work under his contract of service.

• Use-it-or-lose-it policy Not specified by law

• PTO payout at the termination

Provided that where a contract of service is terminated otherwise than by an employee’s desertion, resignation, or summary dismissal before he has qualified for a holiday as aforesaid, the employee is entitled to be paid two days’ full pay for each completed month of service.

Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave

Every female employee who has completed at least two years of continuous service with her employer from the date of first engagement or since the last maternity leave taken, as the case may be, shall, on the production of a medical certificate as to her pregnancy signed by a registered medical practitioner, be entitled to maternity leave of 14 weeks with full pay.

The maternity leave is exclusive of any other leave to which a female employee may otherwise be entitled.

In case of illness which arises out of pregnancy and results in a female employee becoming temporarily incapable of performing her official duties, such employee is entitled to sick leave.

An employer is forbidden to terminate the services of a female employee or impose any other penalty or disadvantage upon such employee for reasons connected with such employee’s pregnancy.

Paternity Leave

Male employees with at least 12 months of service are entitled to five consecutive working days of unpaid paternity leave.

Sick Leave, Family Responsibility Leave

Sick Leave

All employees with at least 12 months of service or more are entitled to employer-paid sick leave for up to six months, with the first three months at 100% of pay and the last three at 50%. Individuals engaged under shorter-term contracts are entitled to 52 days of leave at 100% of pay for the first 26 days and then 50% for the next 26 days.

Family Responsibility Leave

Employees with at least six months of service are entitled to seven working days of paid leave to care for a sick child, spouse, or dependent.

Jury Duty Leave and Voting Leave

Not specified by law

Bereavement Leave

Employees are entitled to 12 days of paid compassionate leave for the death of a spouse, child, parent, or dependent. The leave is non-accumulative.

Military Leave

• Not specified by law.

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

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