Leave policy in Peru

Compared to many of its Latin American neighbors, Peru offers a generous leave entitlement package for private employees. Thirty calendar days of paid vacation, 16 public holidays, and sick leave coverage that can stretch an entire year make up the core of what employers need to track. Parental leave rules are also well defined in Peruvian labor law.

It should matter to US and European companies as SUNAFIL, Peru’s labor inspection authority, runs active audits on leave law compliance. 

Let’s get into the details of statutory leave entitlements in Peru that you should consider while engaging talent in the region. 

Vacation & annual leave in Peru

As per Legislative Decree No. 728, after completing one year of continuous service, a full-time employee in Peru is entitled to 30 calendar days of paid vacation. 

Not all of those days need to be taken off work, though. The law requires a minimum of 15 consecutive days of actual rest. The other 15 days of leave can be divided into shorter periods, like a mix of single days or half-days, as per the mutual agreement. 

This approach offers a relatively high degree of flexibility, making paid time off in Peru one of the most adaptable in the region.

Statutory leave in Peru can carry forward, but only for two consecutive years. 

Public holidays

Peru has 16 paid public holidays in Peru per year, and these sit outside the 30-day vacation allowance. So yes, employees get both.

The Peruvian Ministry of Labor issues the official holiday calendar for Peru by decree toward the end of each calendar year. 

The standard public holidays in Peru:

• New Year’s Day
• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Labor Day/ May Day
• Battle of Arica / Flag Day
• Saint Peter and Saint Paul Day
• Peruvian Air Force Day
• Independence Day
• Independence Day ( Day 2)
• Battle of Junin
• Santa Rosa de Lima
• Battle of Angamos
• All Saints’ Day
• Immaculate Conception
• Battle of Ayacucho
• Christmas Day

Sick leave in Peru

The total allowance for sick leave in Peru is up to 365 days a year. But the cost does not fall on one party alone. It is split between the employer and EsSalud, Peru’s social security health system.

During the first 20 days of illness, the employer pays full salary. From day 21 onward, EsSalud steps in with a subsidy. The employee needs a standard medical certificate for any absence. Beyond 20 days, a Certificate of Temporary Disability (called a CITT) from EsSalud is also required.

Moreover, terminating someone while they are on valid sick leave is not permitted. You may suspend the employment contract but not terminate it. 

Maternity leave in Peru

The standard maternity leave in Peru is 98 days, or 14 weeks. That breaks down to 49 days before the expected due date and 49 days after delivery. 

Moreover, employers can request at least two months’ advance notice from the expectant mother regarding planned leave dates.

Paternity leave in Peru

Paternity leave in Peru is 10 consecutive calendar days, paid by the employer and starting from the date of birth.

That number goes up in specific situations. Premature or multiple births extend the entitlement to 20 days. When the newborn is diagnosed with a terminal congenital disease or severe disability, it increases further to 30 days.

Paternal leave policy in Peru

Peru does not currently have a separate shared parental leave framework. The maternity and paternity provisions above are the full extent of what the law provides.

Other types of leave in Peru

In Peru, employers must consider other statutory leave provisions as follows: 

Family medical care leave

If a child, parent, spouse, or partner faces a serious or terminal diagnosis or has a life-threatening accident, the employee may take up to 7 calendar days off with pay. 

This may be extended up to 30 additional days, which can be charged against accrued vacation.

Bereavement leave

The death of a spouse, parent, child, or sibling qualifies the employee for 5 calendar days of paid leave.

Explore Payoneer Workforce Management in Peru

Between vacation accruals, sick leave tracking, maternity reimbursements, and holiday pay calculations, managing leave entitlements in Peru takes real attention to detail. 

A missed Compensation for Time of Services (CTS) deposit or a late vacation payment can quickly turn into a SUNAFIL inquiry.

Payoneer Workforce Management helps streamline the administrative burden. Our unified platform supports onboarding, payroll, compliance, and time-off management across Peru and 160+ other countries.

In practice, we help build employment contracts around local leave rules, navigate payroll that accounts for vacation pay and bonus calculations, and provide support for staying compliant.

Need EOR services in Peru? Or maybe contractor management or Agent of Record support? Payoneer Workforce Management offers support to engage employees and contractors.

Book a demo today to learn how Payoneer Workforce Management can help with expansion in Peru.

FAQs

1. How many vacation days are there in Peru?

It’s 30 calendar days per year, starting after the first full year of continuous service. At least 15 of those days must be taken consecutively. The remaining 15 can be taken as single days and half-days, but only if both the employer and employee agree to it in writing.

2. How many public holidays does Peru have?

Peru has 16 public holidays. These are paid days off and sit outside the 30-day vacation allowance, so employees receive both. 

3. What is the sick leave policy in Peru?

Both the employer and EsSalud share the cost. For the first 20 days, the employer pays full salary. From day 21 onward, EsSalud (Peru’s social security health system) takes over with a subsidy. A medical certificate is required for every sick leave claim, regardless of duration.

4. How long is maternity leave in Peru?

Fourteen weeks, which works out to 98 days total. It splits into 49 days before and 49 days after delivery. Social security covers the full salary throughout. In cases of premature delivery or multiple births, the entitlement increases by an additional 30 calendar days.

5. Can a workforce management platform manage employee leave in Peru?

A workforce management platform like Payoneer Workforce Management helps centralize leave tracking, standardize records, and improve visibility into employee time off. This helps smoother coordination across teams, reduces manual errors, and keeps workforce administration organized.