Last updated on July 30, 2024.

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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 of fully paid vacation for each year of employment. Those with a longer length of service are entitled to 3 weeks. 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:

• 2 weeks: for employees who have been continuously employed at the company for more than 1 year and less than 5 years.

• 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.

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.

Any employee must be paid by the employer at least half of her regular weekly wage for the first four 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.

Paternity Leave in Dominica

Despite our most diligent research, information on statutory paternity leave in Dominica is limited on the Internet. If needed, it would be best to contact your legal counsel for this information.

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 leave is not specified by Dominica leave laws.

Military Leave in Dominica

Military leave is not specified by Dominica leave laws.

Voting Leave in Dominica

Voting leave is not specified by Dominican leave laws.

Public Holidays in Dominica

12 public holidays

(*) - The date of Easter Sunday varies each year.

Sources

1. DOMINICA LABOUR STANDARDS ACT, https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/1977_labstndrd_dma.pdf
2. Government of Dominica Official Website, dominica.gov.dm
3. The Ministry of Labour, Dominica: dominica.gov.dm/services/labour

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