Leave Laws
Last updated on June 16, 2026.
Paid Time Off (PTO) in Venezuela
Vacation (Annual Leave) Quota
15 days
Employees in Venezuela working full-time are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave per year. On top of that, employees obtain one more day for each following year of service, and the vacation entitlement can go up to 30 days per year.
An employee must have at least one year of service with the employer in order to be eligible for leave.
Employees are entitled to acquire a “vacation bonus” for each day of leave when they are taking their vacation.
Carry Over
Required by law.
Workers are entitled to carry over unused vacation days; these days must be added to their vacation time in the following year.
Payment for Unused Vacation Days Upon Termination
Required by law.
An employer is required to pay for all unused vacation time of the employee upon ending their employment.
Sick Leave in Venezuela
Up to 52 weeks
Employees in Venezuela may have up to 52 weeks of paid sick absence.
Employees must submit a medical certificate within the first 48 hours of the illness from the National Social Security Institute in order to obtain paid leave.
Payout
For the initial three days of sick leave, employees receive their full salary from the employer. From the fourth day onwards, the employer pays 33% of the salary, while the National Social Security Institute covers the remaining 66%. However, some employers choose to pay the full salary during the entire sick absence due to frequent delays in payments from Social Security.
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Maternity Leave in Venezuela
26 weeks
A pregnant employee in Venezuela is entitled to 26 weeks of partially paid maternity leave. This leave is divided into 6 weeks of prenatal absence and 20 weeks of postnatal.
Mothers can also take two 30-minute breastfeeding breaks daily for 9 months after childbirth.
An employee who became a mother may not be fired for 2 years following the birth of the child.
Payout
During the period of maternity leave, an employee receives 66.66% of their regular income from the government (social security).
An employer may choose to compensate the employee and then collect the pay from the government.
Paternity Leave in Venezuela
Up to 2 weeks.
A father is entitled to paid paternity leave from the social security system for 14 continuous days (2 weeks) from the date of birth.
The father, the same as the mother, may not be terminated for up to 2 years following the childbirth.
Payout
Social Security pays for paternity leave.
Bereavement leave in Venezuela
2 days
In Venezuela, employees are provided with two days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Venezuelan leave laws require at least two days, but many employers and CBAs give more days (often 3 to 5) for this unfortunate event.
Jury Duty Leave in Venezuela
Online data is unavailable; please consult official legal materials or offline sources for information.
Military Leave in Venezuela
Paid leave.
An employee who is on mandatory military service or military training is entitled to leave with pay, with guaranteed job protection.
Voting Leave in Venezuela
There is no law defining voting leave.
Public companies and institutions have often used threats of termination to force employees to vote for the ruling party or participate in political rallies.
Public Holidays in Venezuela
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday | Carnival |
| Movable: In spring - Three days before Easter Sunday (*) | Maundy Thursday |
| Movable: In spring - Two days before Easter Sunday | Good Friday |
| April 19 | Declaration of Independence |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| June 24 | Battle of Carabobo |
| July 5 | Independence Day |
| July 24 | Simon Boliviar’s Birthday |
| October 12 | Indigenous Resistance Day (Día de la Resistencia Indígena) |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 31 | New Year’s Eve |
Sources of Venezuela Leave Laws
-
Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/Venezuela
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Payroll and Benefits Guide Venezuela, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/venezuela/
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Definitive Guide to Hiring in Venezuela, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/Venezuela
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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