Last updated on February 14, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Yemen

Vacation Quota (Annual Leave)

30 days

Employees in Yemen are entitled to at least 30 fully paid days of vacation per year. This entitlement is determined based on a calculation of at least two and a half days per month. For certain job positions and worker categories, the minister can approve extended leave entitlements.

An employee must have a full year of service in the company to qualify for paid vacation.

In addition to this annual leave entitlement, workers have the right to 15 officially recognized paid public holidays.

Carry Over

Vacation can be divided and taken in part, but the smallest segment may not be less than 2 days.

An employer must generally provide leave and let employees take it in the given year. However, an employer can decide to postpone up to half of an employee’s leave (minimum 15 days) to the next year for a cause that benefits one or both parties. Any existing conditions and rules regarding vacation must remain effective.

Payout

Employees are not allowed to give up their vacation entitlement for financial compensation.

Sick Leave in Yemen

Up to 8 months of partly paid leave.

When sick or injured, employees in Yemen are eligible for paid sick leave that varies in compensation over time. This paid sick leave is guaranteed by Yemen leave laws.

Sick leave is permitted based on a notice:

• from a licensed doctor that the employer has chosen,
• from a medical institution that has arranged an agreement with the employer,
• from the Republic healthcare system,
• from an emergency care hospital or clinic in the local area.

Payout

Sick leave is paid in the following manner:

• Full salary during the first two months,
• 85% of the salary for the 3rd and 4th months,
• 75% of the salary for the 5th and 6th months,
• 50% of the salary for the 7th and 8th months.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Yemen

70 days

A pregnant female employee in Yemen is entitled to 70 days of fully paid maternity leave. Unlike the leave laws in almost every country that require certain prenatal and postnatal leave, Yemen does not mandate how long the period should be before (prepartum) and after childbirth (postpartum).

Maternity leave can be extended by an additional 20 days in specific situations, such as:

• in cases of difficult childbirth, such as cesarean delivery, provided there is medical certification of the complication,
• the birth of twins or triplets.

Yemeni leave laws do not specify any requirements for a pregnant worker to qualify for maternity leave.

Payout

An employee receives her full salary (100%) during maternity leave, paid by the employer.

Paternity Leave in Yemen

Paternity leave is not mandated by Yemen leave laws.

Special Leave for Pilgrimage (Hajj)

20 paid days.

Employees are entitled to 20 paid days to perform pilgrimage to the Hadj, which includes the Id Al-Adha holiday. Pilgrimage leave is allowed only once during the employment of a worker.

To be eligible for this leave, an employee must have at least 4 years of service in the company.

Employers are allowed to check if this leave is used for the right purposes.

Bereavement Leave in Yemen

There is no legal definition of bereavement leave.

Jury Duty Leave in Yemen

There is no legal definition of jury duty leave.

Military Leave in Yemen

There is no legal definition of military leave.

Voting Leave in Yemen

There is no legal definition of voting leave.

Public Holidays in Yemen

15 public holidays

Yemen observes 15 public holidays. This is actually 8 holidays, which last for 15 days because Eid al-Adha is celebrated for 5 days and Eid al-Fitr for 4 days.

Employees are entitled to paid leave on all official public holidays. Employees who are required to work on a public holiday must be paid 200% of the standard rate.

A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Yemen:

Sources of Yemeni Leave Laws

1. Yemeni employment law overview, https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/co-publishing/sponsored-briefing-yemeni-employment-law-overview/
2. Yemen Labor Management Procedures, https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/WHOEMYEM034E-eng.pdf

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