Leave Laws
Last updated on February 6, 2024.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Myanmar
Types of mandatory paid leave:
- Vacation leave (also known as Annual leave or Earned leave)
- Sick leave
- Maternity and Paternity leave
- Casual leave
- Public Holidays
Vacation Leave Quota (Annual Leave)
10 days
Employees in Myanmar (ex-Burma) receive at least 10 days of paid vacation (earned leave) per year.
An employee must work for at least 1 year for the employer to become eligible for vacation entitlement.
Taking a Vacation
When an employee takes vacation days, the law requires that weekends and public holidays falling within the leave period be counted as part of the annual leave. For instance, if someone takes leave from Friday to the following Thursday, any weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) in this period are considered part of the leave just like regular workdays, making it 7 days of vacation. However, most companies generally don’t count weekends and holidays as vacation days in practice.
An employee is entitled to take up to 10 consecutive days of vacation. However, this can be even more than 10 consecutive days after receiving approval from the employer.
Carry Over
Employees are allowed to carry over unused vacation days to the following year. Vacation days may be rolled over for up to 2 years from the year they were given. However, with an employer agreement, the period for using vacation days can extend to 3 years.
Payment for Unused Vacation Days on Termination
Employees in Myanmar must be compensated for any earned but unused vacation days at the time of their termination, with the compensation being based on their current salary rate. The calculation of vacation entitlement begins with the employee’s start date, which includes any probationary period.
Sick Leave in Myanmar
30 days
In Myanmar, employees are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave per year.
An employee must have completed six months of continuous service with the company to have the right to paid leave. However, an employee who has worked less than 6 months can take unpaid sick leave.
A medical certificate must be submitted to have a valid leave.
Unused sick days can’t be carried over to the following year.
Sick leave may be extended up to 26 weeks per year, but sick pay is guaranteed only for the first 30 days.
Payout
During sick leave, those employees who are covered by social security law may receive a portion of their salaries from social security funds.
On top of paid sick leave benefits, employees are entitled to extra leave benefits for specific work-related illnesses or injuries.
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Maternity Leave in Myanmar
14 weeks
An employee who is pregnant in Myanmar is entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave.
Maternity leave consists of
-
6 weeks of prenatal leave (before childbirth);
-
8 weeks of postnatal leave (after childbirth).
Four additional weeks are provided for the birth of twins or triplets or in case of complications before, during, or after the birth of the child.
In the unfortunate event of a miscarriage, an employee is entitled to 6 weeks of leave.
Payout
An employee is paid by the goverment if she is qualified for social security benefits.
Otherwise, the employer pays for maternity leave.
Paternity Leave in Myanmar
15 days
A father in Myanmar is entitled to 15 weeks of compulsory paternity leave. If the mother of their child is not covered by social insurance, these fathers are eligible for compensation of 25% of their average monthly wages for a regular single birth. This compensation increases to 37.5 percent for the birth of twins and 50 percent for triplets.
Adoption Leave
8 weeks
A mother who has adopted a child receives 8 weeks of paid maternity leave for child care, but the child must be under 1 year old.
Parental Leave in Myanmar
There is no parental leave required by law, except for maternity and paternity leave.
Casual Leave in Myanmar
6 days per year.
Employees are entitled to 6 days of casual leave per year. Casual leave is not accrued, so employees can take it from the beginning of their probation. This leave cannot be saved and carried over to the next year, so unused days are lost.
Up to 3 continuous days may be taken in a single term (maximum 3 days in a row). Additionally, it cannot be combined with any other form of leave.
Bereavement Leave in Myanmar (Funeral Leave)
The law does not specifically mention bereavement leave. Employees may use their vacation days or casual leave for this purpose.
Jury Duty Leave in Myanmar
The law does not specifically mention jury duty leave.
Military Leave in Myanmar
The law does not specifically mention military leave.
Voting Leave in Myanmar
The law does not specifically mention voting leave.
Public Holidays in Myanmar for 2024
16 public holidays
A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Myanmar:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 4 | Independence Day |
| January 4 | Kayin New Year |
| February 12 | Union Day |
| March 2 | Peasants’ Day |
| March 24 to March 25 | Full Moon Day of Tabaung |
| March 27 | Armed Forces Day |
| April 13 to April 16 | Thingyan Water Festival |
| April 17 | Myanmar New Year |
| May 1 | Worker’s Day |
| May 22 | Full Moon Day of Kasong |
| July 19 | Martyrs’ Day |
| July 20 to Jul 22 | Full Moon Day of Waso |
| October 16 to October 18 | Full Moon Day of Thadingyut |
| November 14 to November 15 | Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone |
| November 25 | National Day |
| December 25 | Christmas |
| December 30 | Kayin New Year |
| December 31 & January 1 | New Year |
Sources
- Local Laws and Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/myanmar-burma
- Payroll and Benefits Guide Myanmar, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/myanmar/
- Laws & Regulations in Myanmar, https://smartmyanmar.org/en/laws-regulations
Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about the laws in various countries.
This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For current and accurate guidance, please consult legal counsel in your jurisdiction.
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