Leave Laws
Last updated on June 10,2026.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Bolivia
Vacation Leave Quota (Annual Leave)
At least 15 days
Employees are entitled to paid vacation according to tenure:
- 1–5 years of continuous service: 15 days.
- 5-10 years of continuous service: 20 days.
- 10 or more years of continuous service: 30 days.
These vacation days are provided in addition to leave for public holidays.
Carry Over
Unused vacation days may be accrued with a previous written agreement.
Payment of Unused Vacation on Termination
Employers are required to pay all employees for their unused vacation days upon termination of employment.
Sick Leave in Bolivia
The employer pays for the first 3 days.
Employees in Bolivia are entitled to up to 26 weeks of paid sick leave annually.
In case of illness or injury, an employee must receive care at the health facility where they are registered, with no additional cost to the employee or the employer. To be entitled to paid sick leave, the employee must provide a medical certificate indicating their inability to work within 48 hours of the first day of illness.
Payout:
- Up to the 3rd day of sick leave: paid by the employer. An employee receives 100% of their salary.
From the 4th day onward: paid by Bolivian Social Security. An employee receives 75% of their salary.
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Regardless of their marital status, both the mother and father are entitled to job security from the start of the pregnancy until the child is one year old. During this period, they cannot be discharged, their salary cannot be altered, and their job location must remain unchanged.
Maternity Leave in Bolivia
90 days
A pregnant female employee in Bolivia is entitled to 90 days of fully paid (100%) maternity leave.
This maternity leave consists of
- 45 days taken before the anticipated birth,
- The remaining 45 days are taken after the childbirth.
In order to be eligible for maternity leave, an employee must have 120 consecutive days of service at the company.
Payout
A pregnant employee receives a maternity allowance while on leave.
An employer pays the full wages to an employee (100% of their salary). After that, Bolivian Social Security reimburses 90% of the wage.
According to social security regulations, a pregnant employee or her spouse is eligible for a prenatal subsidy starting from the fifth month of pregnancy and a nursing subsidy, which lasts until their child reaches one year of age. These subsidies, which must be provided by the employer, include monthly supplies of dairy and nutritional products valued at 1 national (federal) minimum wage per month. Additionally, upon the birth of the child, the employer is required to make a one-time payment equivalent to one monthly federal minimum wage to the employee.
Paternity Leave in Bolivia
3 days
An employee who becomes a father obtains 3 days of mandatory paid paternity leave. This leave must be taken after the birth of a child.
The same as for maternity leave, an employee needs to have 120 consecutive days of service in the company to become eligible for paid paternity leave.
Parental Leave in Bolivia
No national policy.
There are no Bolivia leave laws concerning parental leave. An employee can only request a leave of up to three days, with full pay, in the event of accidents or serious illnesses of children under 12 years old.
Adoption Leave in Bolivia
2 months
Parents who adopt a child receive up to two months of paid adoption leave after the adoption. They are also protected from dismissal the same as birth parents, for one full year from the date of the final adoption decision.
Bereavement Leave in Bolivia
3 days
An employer is required to provide three paid days to an employee who is facing the unfortunate event of the death of an immediate family member.
Payout
Bereavement leave is paid by the employer.
Jury Duty Leave in Bolivia
Bolivia leave laws do not specify jury duty leave, as there is no formal civic obligation to serve on juries in criminal trials.
An employee could be selected as an Electoral Juror (Jurado Electoral) for public elections. In such a case, an employer must provide them the necessary time off to fulfil this mandatory civic duty without any risk to their job.
Military Leave in Bolivia
Online data is unavailable; please consult official legal materials or offline sources for information.
Voting Leave in Bolivia
Online data is unavailable; please consult official legal materials or offline sources for information.
Public Holidays in Bolivia
11 public holidays
There are 11 national public holidays.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| January 22 | Plurinational State Day |
| February or March | Carnival Monday |
| February or March | Carnival Tuesday |
| Movable: In spring - Two days before Easter Sunday (*) | Good Friday |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| 60 days after Easter Sunday | Corpus Christi |
| June 21 | Aymara New Year |
| August 6 | National Day |
| November 2 | All Souls’ Day |
| December 25 | Christmas |
(*) - The dates of Good Friday, Easter, and Corpus Christi vary each year according to the Christian liturgical calendar.
Sources
- Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/bolivia
- Payroll and Benefits Guide Bolivia, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/bolivia/
- Definitive Guide to Hiring in Bolivia, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/bolivia
- Employment and employee benefits in Bolivia: overview, https://content.next.westlaw.com/practical-law/document/I80de35b4241811e798dc8b09b4f043e0/Employment-and-employee-benefits-in-Bolivia-overview?transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29
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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