Leave Laws
Last updated on May 25, 2026.
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Nota bene: Dominica, with its capital Roseau, whose laws we cover in this article, distinguishes itself from another country nearby in the region, the Dominican Republic (capital Santo Domingo).
Our blog covers the Dominican Republic leave laws in a separate article.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Dominica
Vacation (Annual Leave) Quota
2 weeks (for employees with less than 5 years of service) or 3 weeks (employees with 5 years or more years of service)
Employees in Dominica are entitled to at least 2 weeks (14 calendar days) of fully paid vacation for each year of employment. To be entitled to vacation leave, an employee must have been working for the full 12 months at the company.
A minimum vacation entitlement is as follows:
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2 weeks: for employees who have been continuously employed at the company for more than 1 year and less than 5 years.
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3 weeks: for employees who have been continuously employed at the company for 5 years or more.
Granting Paid Vacation Leave
Employers must give their employees the paid vacation (annual leave) they have earned. This annual leave should start within ten months after the employee has completed the work year for which they earned the leave.
Planning a Vacation Leave
The law does not specify anything about scheduling a vacation leave, so generally the planning of the vacation is decided by an agreement between an employee and an employer.
Pay During Vacation Leave
When an employee is entitled to paid vacation leave, the employer must pay them their regular wages during this vacation period. The employee should receive this pay on the same days they would normally get paid.
Payment of Unused Vacation Leave Upon Termination
If an employee’s job ends for any reason, the employer must pay the employee for any unused vacation leave they have earned from previous years.
Sick Leave in Dominica
Paid at 60% of the employee’s salary.
Employees are entitled to paid sick leave after they have been employed for six months of continuous service.
Sick leave in Dominica is paid at 60% of the employee’s average weekly earnings for up to 6 months, as long as the illness is certified by a doctor. Employees do not receive pay for the first three days of sick leave. If the illness lasts more than three days, payment starts on the fourth day.
In cases of hospitalisation, sick leave is paid from the first day.
Payout
Sick leave in Dominica is paid by the Dominica Social Security (DSS).
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Maternity Leave in Dominica
12 weeks
Female employees in Dominica are entitled to 12 weeks of partially paid maternity leave.
Maternity leave includes:
- At least 3 weeks of leave before the expected birth date;
- Up to 9 weeks starting from the actual birth date.
(In practice, this is often 6 weeks before and 6 weeks following the birth of a child.)
To have the privilege of maternity leave, an employee must have worked continuously for an employer for 12 months.
Pay During Maternity Leave
At least 1/2 of regular wages for 4 weeks from the employer. The Dominica Social Security provides a maternity pay for the entire 12-week period.
An employer pays: Any employee must be paid by the employer at least half of her regular weekly wage for the first 4 weeks of her leave. This is the legal minimum, but most employers choose to top up this benefit and provide more money to pregnant employees.
Social security pays: Maternity allowance is paid by the Dominica Social Security (DSS) and covers all 12 weeks, paying out at a rate of 60% of an employee’s average weekly insurable earnings.
Paternity Leave in Dominica
Paternity leave in Dominica is not specified by law.
Bereavement Leave in Dominica
2 days
Employees in Dominica are entitled to up to 2 days of paid leave in the event of a death in a close family. This may include the employee’s mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, child, and relatives living in the same household.
Jury Duty Leave in Dominica
Jury duty in Dominica is a mandatory civic responsibility governed by law. Therefore, employers are required to allow their employees to fulfill their legal obligation when summoned by the authority. However, the law doesn’t mandate paid time off, so it is at an employer’s discretion whether leave is paid or unpaid.
Military Leave in Dominica
Online data is unavailable; please consult official legal materials or offline sources for information.
Voting Leave in Dominica
2 hours
On election day, employers must give their employees 2 hours of paid leave to cast their ballots. Employers can’t cut an employee’s pay, reduce their benefits, or penalize them in any way for taking this time off to vote.
Public Holidays in Dominica
12 public holidays
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year |
| February or March | Carnival Monday |
| February or March | Carnival Tuesday |
| Movable: In spring - Two days before Easter Sunday (*) | Good Friday |
| Movable: In spring - The day after Easter Sunday (*) | Easter Monday |
| First Monday in May | Labor Day |
| 50 days after Easter (floating Monday) | Whit Monday |
| First Monday in August | Emancipation Day |
| November 3 | Independence Day |
| November 4 | Community Service Day |
| December 25 | Christmas |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
(*) - The date of Easter Sunday varies each year.
Sources
- DOMINICA LABOUR STANDARDS ACT, https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/1977_labstndrd_dma.pdf
- Government of Dominica Official Website, dominica.gov.dm
- The Ministry of Labour, Dominica: dominica.gov.dm/services/labour
Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about 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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