Leave policy in Egypt
Stay informed on leave laws in Egypt. Understand how annual, sick, maternity, public holidays, and pilgrimage leaves work under local employment regulations.
To build a supportive and compliant workplace in Egypt, employers must clearly understand the leave laws in Egypt and adhere to them. Egypt’s new labor law grants employees 15–30 days of paid annual leave, up to four months of paid maternity leave, and paid paternity leave.
If you are a new business entering Egypt, getting these details right from the start can make workforce management much smoother. An Employer of Record (EOR) like Payoneer Workforce Management can help you navigate these requirements with ease.
This article explores how an Employer of Record (EOR) like Payoneer Workforce Management can help organizations understand and effectively support you implement these requirements. Read on to learn more.
Vacation & annual leave in Egypt
The number of annual leaves in Egypt that employees are entitled to depends on the tenure of their service.
| Employment tenure | Annual holidays |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 15 days |
| 2nd year onwards | 21 days |
| More than 10 years with the same employer | 30 days |
Employees who are older than 60 are entitled to 30 paid leaves per year.
Public holiday
There are 12 public holidays in Egypt.
- Coptic Christmas Day
- Revolution Day
- Eid El-Fitr
- Sham El-Nassim
- Sinai Liberation Day
- Eid El-Adha
- Labour Day
- Revolution Day
- Revolution Day
- Islamic New Year
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
- Armed Forces Day
Sick leave in Egypt
Employees get sick leave in Egypt for 180 days. During this period, they shall be compensated by social security.
- Employees receive 75% of their salary for the first 90 days.
- Employees receive 85% of their salary for the next 90 days.
Maternity leave in Egypt
You must grant your female employees 4 months’ maternity leave in Egypt on account of childbirth if they have been working for the past 12 months.
The pay is typically 75% of the employee’s salary in the past 12 months.
Employees also need to give a 45-day notice to the employer and return within 45 days after the leave ends.
Paternity leave in Egypt
Just like in Saudi Arabia, male employees can take paternity leave in Egypt. However, employees in Egypt can take 1 day’s paternity leave up to 3 times during the tenure of employment, while Saudi Arabia allows paternity leave for 5 days.
Other types of leave in Egypt
Listed below are some other leaves that employees in Egypt are entitled to. While some are statutory, others lie at the discretion of employers.
Childcare leaves
If you work with at least 50 employees, you must grant your female employees leave for up to 2 years to care for their child. An employee can avail this facility twice during her service life.
Compassionate leave
Although not mandated by law, you may grant your employees compassionate leave on account of the death of their close ones.
Wedding leave
If you are an employer in the banking or hospitality sector, you may grant your employees 1-3 days of paid leave to employees on account of their wedding, as per internal policies.
Pilgrimage leave
If an employee has completed 5 years with you, they shall be eligible to take a month’s paid leave to perform the Hajj pilgrimage or visit the holy city of Jerusalem.
Explore Payoneer Workforce Management in Egypt
Having a clear understanding of the unpaid and paid time off in Egypt is essential for managing your workforce effectively. These regulations outline key entitlements such as annual leave, sick leave, and maternity benefits, making it important to stay compliant, reduce potential risks, and ensure a consistent employee experience.
Partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) like Payoneer Workforce Management can simplify leave management while aligning with local regulations. This helps reduce administrative effort and allows you to maintain smooth operations.
Book a demo to get started.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Employers in Egypt must settle leave balances every three years. In case of termination, employees are entitled to full encashment of any unused leave.
Employees get 180 days of sick leave in Egypt. They receive 75% of their salary as compensation for the first 90 days, and 85% of their salary for the next 90 days.
In Egypt, compassionate leave is not statutory; it is discretionary in nature. If an employer chooses to offer compassionate leave, the clause must be mentioned in the employment contract.
This is a statutory leave in Egypt. Employers shall provide leave to employees for a maximum of 30 days to perform the Hajj pilgrimage or visit Jerusalem. This leave can be taken once in an employee’s entire service period, if they have 5 years of service.
Payoneer Workforce Management offers a unified EOR platform that supports onboarding, payroll, compliance, and time-off management, so employers in Egypt can manage leave policies by adhering to local labor laws and administering entitlements such as annual, sick, and maternity leave.
Female employees working in Egypt are entitled to 4 months of maternity leave.
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