Paid Time Off (PTO) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Last updated on December 23, 2023.

A note on the territorial division and the duties under the Constitution

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a decentralized state and consists of two major independent entities:

• The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of B&H)

• Republika Srpska (RS).

The leave laws presented apply to both parts of Bosnia. However, laws are presented in separate sections when regulations differ between these two entities.

A third unit of Bosnia, the Brčko District, has almost identical leave laws as in RS, although some legislative acts are not entirely the same. Due to its relatively small size (accounting for just 2% of Bosnia’s total population), it is not covered in this article. The Federation of B&H is decentralized into 10 cantons.

Vacation Leave Quota

20 days

Workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are entitled to at least 20 days of paid vacation. This vacation entitlement is identical to those of neighboring countries, such as Serbia’s leave laws and countries in the region like Bulgaria’s. Annual leave policy with 20 vacation days is practiced in most leave laws in Europe, except in a few countries that guarantee employees 28 days, such as Denmark and France, for example.

Duration of vacation can be up to a maximum of 30 days. However, vacation may last even longer than 30 working days if this is regulated by a collective agreement, according to the nature of the job and working conditions.

An underage employee is entitled to at least 24 days of leave.

Employees are entitled to their vacation leave after six months of continuous service at the company.

(Vacation leave - Godišnji odmor in Bosnian)

Carry Over

Allowed. Carried-over leave expires June 30 of the following year.

Employees may take their vacation in 2 parts, but the first part must be a minimum of 12 uninterrupted days within the given calendar year, and the rest of it can be carried over.

Employees who don’t take all their vacation days within the given year can transfer these leftover days to the following year. However, they must take these vacation days by June 30 next year.

PTO Cash Out

Not allowed.

Employees are not allowed to give up their vacation time and demand pay instead of the vacation days they are entitled to. However, suppose an employee doesn’t take their vacation because of something the employer did wrong, like refusing their vacation request. In that case, the employee can demand monetary compensation for the vacation time they didn’t use.

Payout

During vacation leave, an employee is entitled to 100% salary compensation.

Sick Leave in Bosnia

Sick Leave in the Federation of B&H

The first 42 days are paid by the employer, and then it is the Health Insurance Fund.

An employer is responsible for paying an employee’s salary during the first 42 days of sick leave. The employer continues to provide salary compensation to the employee even after those 42 days. Still, they are entitled to reimbursement for these payments from the relevant health insurance fund.

A medical board decides if an employee’s sick leave needs to be extended beyond 42 days.

2024 Update: Upcoming Changes to the Sick Leave Laws

A new law is currently under review, with employers demanding a reduction in their payment of sick leave to up to 15 days. In a session of the House of Representatives held in mid-2022, a draft amendment to the Health Insurance Law was adopted. This amendment shortens the duration of sickness leave paid by the employer from 42 to 15 days, after which the Health Insurance Fund would take over the payment of compensation to employees.

Payout

During sick leave, an employee receives 80% of regular salary. In case of work-related injuries, they receive 100% of their salary.

Sick Leave in Republika Srpska

The first 30 days are paid by the employer, and then it is the Health Insurance Fund.

An employer pays sick leave compensation for up to 30 days. Sick leaves longer than 30 days are covered by the Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Srpska, except in cases of work-related injuries and occupational diseases.

Payout

The salary during sick leave ranges from 70% to 100% of the salary, depending on the type of illness.

Maternity Leave in Bosnia

Maternity Leave in the Federation of B&H

365 days with 100% paid leave.

Pregnant female employees are entitled to one year of fully paid maternity leave. Maternity leave starts 28 days before the expected date of birth.

An employee may choose to take shorter maternity leave, but they are required by law to take at least 42 days of leave after childbirth.

(Maternity leave - Porodiljsko odsustvo in Bosnian)

Payout

The pay rate for maternity leave differs among cantons, ranging from 50% to 100% of the employee’s average wages.

Maternity Leave in Republika Srpska

365 days with 100% paid leave.

Female employees are entitled to 1 full year of paid maternity leave. Maternity leave starts 28 days before the expected date of birth.

Working mothers may take shorter maternity leave, but they are legally obligated to take at least 60 days of maternity leave after the birth of their child.

Payout

Employees on maternity leave receive 100% of their average wages in the last twelve months.

Paternity Leave in Bosnia

Not required by law.

There is no statutory entitlement to paternity leave in either of the two major parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Paternity leave is a standard entitlement in almost all European countries; you can check, for example, leave laws in the United Kingdom, France, or the Netherlands.

Bereavement Leave in Bosnia

Bereavement leave is not specified by law.

Jury Duty Leave in Bosnia

Jury duty leave is not specified by law.

Military Leave in Bosnia

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Bosnia

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Bosnia

11 public holidays

All three entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina share most of their public holidays. However, the definite list differs for a few holidays. The lists of holidays provided below are for two major entities.

Republika Srpska

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sources

1. Labour law in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-labour-law-in-central-eastern-europe/federation-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina

2. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Bosnia and Herzegovina, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/bosnia-and-herzegovina

3. Jasmina Bišćević Tokić: Izmjene zakona u FBiH o bolovanju su na štetu zdravstvenog Fonda i radnika, https://www.faktor.ba/vijest/jasmina-biscevic-tokic-izmjene-zakona-u-fbih-o-bolovanju-su-na-stetu-zdravstvenog-fonda-i-radnika/196220

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