Paid Time Off (PTO) in Bangladesh

Last updated on December 21, 2023.

Vacation Leave Accrual

1 day of vacation for 18 days of work.

Most employees in Bangladesh, both full-time and half-time employees, are entitled to 1 day of paid vacation for every 18 workdays.

However, the number of days employees are entitled to vary according to their job type and industry. Similarly to the leave laws in India, certain industries have different rules.

This is how different types of industries calculate vacation days:

• Workers in factories, commercial establishments, shops, and road transport: 1 day of vacation for every 18 days of work.

• Workers in the newspaper industry: 1 day of vacation for every 11 days of work.

• Workers on tea plantations earn 1 day of vacation every 22 workdays.

Employees are eligible for vacation leave after one full year of employment with the company.

Employees who are minors should not be assigned more than two consecutive shifts or exceed a total of seven and a half hours of work.

Employees in certain companies may be entitled only to 1 or 2 days of vacation per year.

Carry Over

Allowed, up to 40 or 60 days.

Unused vacation days may be carried over to the following year. The limit applies as follows: workers in factories can carry over up to 40 days, and for other workers generally, it is 60 days.

Sick Leave in Bangladesh

14 days

Almost all employees in Bangladesh are entitled to 14 days of paid sick leave per year. Employees who have worked less than a full year for the company are not entitled to this leave.

In order to be eligible for paid sick leave, an employee is required to submit a doctor’s note. A doctor’s note must be a medical certificate issued by the registered medical practitioner.

Employees are not allowed to carry over unused sick days from one year to the following.

Unlike the leave policy in China which differs among regions, the rules for sick leave generally apply to the whole country.

Payout

Sick leave in Bangladesh is paid by the employer at the rate of 100% of the employee’s regular wages.

Casual Leave

10 days

Workers in Bangladesh can take up to 10 days of paid leave annually for urgent situations like unexpected sickness, minor injuries, and pressing personal matters. The same as sick leave, unused days of casual leave cannot be carried over to the next year.

Casual leave is separate from vacation days.

Maternity, Paternity, and Parental Leave

Maternity Leave in Bangladesh

16 weeks

A pregnant employee in Bangladesh is entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave.

These 16 weeks may be taken:

• 8 weeks of maternity leave before the expected delivery date;

• 8 weeks after the birth of a child.

To have the right to maternity leave and benefits, a female employee must have 6 months of continuous service with the company and present a medical certificate confirming her pregnancy.

Payout

Maternity leave benefits must be paid by the employer, and they are calculated by the employee’s average wages.

Paternity Leave in Bangladesh

Not required by law.

There is no provision that requires employers to provide paternity leave under the current Bangladeshi labor law. Despite this, certain companies provide their employees with paid paternity leave, which varies from 5 days to 4 weeks.

Parental Leave in Bangladesh

Not required by law.

Parental leave is currently not required by Bangladeshi law.

Bereavement Leave in Bangladesh

Bereavement leave is not specified by law.

Jury Duty Leave in Bangladesh

Jury duty leave is not specified by law.

Military Leave in Bangladesh

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Bangladesh

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Bangladesh for 2024

Secular national holidays and religious holidays.

The precise number of holidays varies from one year to another. Some holidays in Bangladesh are declared by the government, while other religious holidays are based on the lunar calendar.

A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Bangladesh:

Please note that some of these holidays do not have fixed dates, and some religious observances might also be added to secular national holidays. Therefore, it’s advisable to consult official sources before making any policy.

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/bangladesh

2. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Bangladesh, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/bangladesh

3. Payroll and Benefits Guide Bangladesh, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/bangladesh/

4. Public holidays in Bangladesh (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Bangladesh

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