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Belarus Leave Laws & Holidays

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

Table Of Contents

Vacation Leave in Belarus

Last updated on January 1, 2024.

Vacation Leave Quota

24 days

Employees in Belarus are eligible for at least 24 days of paid vacation annually. This vacation benefit is more generous than other leave laws in Europe.

This vacation benefit can be used either in:

  • one continuous period

  • divided into 2 segments (in which one part must be 14 days or more).

The vacation leave may only be divided into two parts with the employer’s permission and mutual agreement.

Employees begin to accrue (earn) their vacation entitlement on the 1st day of work, but they can take the leave after 6 months of employment.

Carry Over

Employees may carry over all their unused days of vacation leave into the following year without any limitations.

Payment of Unused Vacation on Termination

An employer must pay out all unused days of vacation at the end of employment.

Payout

Compensation for vacation must be done prior to the beginning of the leave, usually 1-3 days before.

Sick Leave in Belarus

Employees are paid 80% - 100% of their regular earnings.

Employees in Belarus have the right to 80% of their average salary during the initial 12 days of their sick leave. However, if the absence is longer than 12 days, they are eligible for 100% of their income.

Payout

The Social Security System covers sick leave benefits.

Maternity and Paternity Leave in Belarus

Maternity Leave

126 days

Employees in Belarus are eligible for 126 days of paid maternity leave, which can be extended to 140 days in cases of twins/triplets or medical difficulties.

Additionally, female employees choose unpaid maternity leave for a duration of up to 3 years, and this leave is job-protected. An employee can return to work earlier if desired.

Maternity benefits are available for up to 3 years.

Paternity Leave

14 days

Employees who have become fathers are permitted up to 14 days of paid paternity leave. This leave must be taken at the latest six months after the child’s birth.

One of the rare European countries whose provisions provide longer paid paternity leave are the leave laws in France and Finland. However, the country with the best paternity leave in the world is, by far, Japan.

Family Care Leave in Belarus

1 day

Employees are entitled to 1 day of paid leave to care for a sick child under 14 years old or a disabled child under 18 years old.

Employees receive their full average earnings while on leave.

Payout

The Social Security fund covers family care leave.

Bereavement Leave in Belarus

2 days

Employees are provided with 2 days of paid leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member or in case a close family member has a life-threatening illness or injury.

Jury Duty Leave in Belarus

Jury Duty leave is not specified by law.

Military Leave in Belarus

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Belarus

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Belarus

9 public holidays

A list of public holidays recognized and celebrated by Belarus:

Date Holiday
January 1 & 2 New Year
January 7 Orthodox Christmas
March 8 Women’s Day
May 1 Worker’s Day
May 9 Victory Day
May 14 Radonitsa
Jul 3 Independence Day
November 7 October Revolution Day
December 25 Catholic Christmas

Sources

  1. Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, https://economy.gov.by/en/employing-en/

  2. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Belarus, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/belarus

  3. How to hire and pay employees in Belarus, https://www.oysterhr.com/hire-employees/belarus

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

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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