Leave Policy in Egypt

Egypt's primary labor statute is now Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, enacted 3 May 2025 and effective 1 September 2025. It replaces Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 and introduces several changes that affect every employer with staff in Egypt.

Key updates include day-one maternity eligibility, a statutory paternity leave entitlement for the first time, and revised annual leave tiers. The law also extends casual leave from 6 to 7 days per year.

• Annual leave: 15 working days in year one, 21 days from year two, and 30 days after 10 years of service or from age 50 onward.
• Maternity leave: 120 calendar days, available from day one of employment, for up to three births.
• Paternity leave: 1 paid day on the birth date, for up to three births. This is a statutory right under the new law.
• Casual/emergency leave: 7 days per year, with a maximum of 2 consecutive days at a time.
• Public holidays: approximately 13 official days per year.

Gloroots tracks statutory changes under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 and manages compliance for companies employing staff in Egypt through its Global Employer of Record service.

Leave Policy at a Glance

Overview and Legal Basis for Leave in Egypt

Egypt's primary statute governing workplace leave is Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, enacted on 3 May 2025 and effective from 1 September 2025. It replaces Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 and Law No. 125 of 2010. Social Insurance Law No. 148 of 2019 funds maternity and sick leave benefits. Ministerial Decree No. 294 of 2025 sets the official public holiday schedule.

The law establishes statutory minimums. Employers may offer more generous terms through contracts or company policy, but cannot fall below the statutory floor. Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 also formally recognizes remote, part-time, flexible, and job-sharing arrangements, with leave entitlements calculated on a proportional basis for those workers.

Egypt's statutory leave framework covers the following categories:

• Annual leave
• Sick leave
• Maternity leave
• Paternity leave
• Casual and emergency leave
• Study leave
• Pilgrimage leave
• Bereavement leave
• Childcare leave
• Care leave
• Military leave

For companies employing staff in Egypt without a local entity, understanding how does EOR work can clarify how compliant employment is structured and managed under Egyptian law.

Manage leave compliance across every country with confidence

See how Gloroots tracks statutory leave, requests, balances, payroll, and reporting for globally distributed teams in one place.

Book a demo

Annual Leave (Earned / Privilege Leave)

Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, annual leave entitlements in Egypt are tiered by tenure, age, disability status, and work conditions. Employees who have completed at least six months but less than one year of service receive 15 working days, pro-rated. From year two onward, the standard entitlement rises to 21 working days per year.

Employees with ten or more years of service, whether with one employer or across multiple employers, are entitled to 30 days annually. The same 30-day entitlement applies to employees aged 50 or older. Employees working in dangerous or unhealthy environments receive an additional 7 days on top of their standard entitlement.

Disabled employees receive a distinct entitlement of 45 days per year from the start of employment. This leave may not be split, carried over, or deferred.

Public holidays, official days off, and weekly rest days are excluded from annual leave counts. Employees sitting for exams may choose their leave dates, provided they notify the employer at least 10 days in advance.

On carry-forward, the new law allows accumulation for up to two years. Employers must grant or pay out all accumulated unused leave at least once every three years. On termination, employers are required to pay out all unused annual leave days in full. Separately, Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 requires employers to apply an annual salary increment of at least 3% of the employee's socially insured salary each year.

Public Holidays

Egypt's official public holidays are governed by Ministerial Decree No. 294 of 2025. Public holidays are excluded from annual leave calculations, so they do not reduce an employee's leave balance.

Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to 200% of their normal daily wage: their regular pay plus a 100% supplement.

Islamic holidays shift annually with the lunar calendar. This table is reviewed each year to reflect confirmed and tentative dates. For a regional comparison of public holiday structures, see the leave policy in UAE.

Sick Leave

Employees in Egypt are entitled to up to 180 days of paid sick leave per year. Pay during sick leave is funded by Egypt's social security system, not directly by the employer. The employer's social insurance contribution of 18.75% funds this benefit.

A medical certificate from a competent authority is required to qualify for sick leave. The table below shows pay rates by duration and condition.

Employees on sick leave have job protection and cannot be terminated on those grounds. If sick leave is exhausted, employees may convert unused annual leave to cover the remaining absence.

Casual Leave

Employees in Egypt are entitled to up to 7 days of casual leave per year under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025. No reason is required to take this leave.

A maximum of 2 consecutive days may be taken per instance. This aligns with the prior practice of limiting casual leave to 2 days at a time.

Casual leave is counted within the employee's annual leave balance. The same carry-forward rules that apply to annual leave apply here: unused days may be rolled over, subject to the 30-day carry-forward cap on annual leave overall.

Maternity Leave

Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, Article 54, female employees in Egypt are entitled to 120 calendar days of paid maternity leave. Eligibility begins on day one of employment, removing the previous one-year service requirement.

Maternity leave may be taken up to 3 times over the course of employment. Employees must provide a 45-day notice period before commencing leave. Leave can begin up to 45 days before the expected due date.

Pay is split between social security and the employer. Social security covers 75% of salary, subject to a cap of EGP 10,900 per month (approximately $217). Where actual salary exceeds this cap, the employer must top up the remaining 25% of the actual salary above it. In common practice, many employers cover 100% of salary for the full leave period.

From month 6 of pregnancy, daily working hours are reduced by at least 1 hour. Overtime is prohibited during pregnancy and for 6 months after delivery.

Nursing breaks apply after return to work: two paid breaks of 30 minutes each per day, for up to 2 years after birth.

Unpaid childcare leave is available at establishments with 50 or more employees. It may be taken up to 3 times, with a minimum of 1 year of service required and a minimum 2-year gap between the first and second leave periods. For a broader view of how statutory maternity frameworks compare across markets, see the leave policy in India.

Paternity Leave

Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 introduced statutory paternity leave in Egypt for the first time. Article 128 grants eligible fathers one paid day off on the date of their child's birth.

This entitlement is available up to three times during an employee's period of employment. The day does not count against the employee's annual leave balance.

The provision applies to all private sector employers covered by the new law. Many multinationals operating in Egypt voluntarily offer additional paternity leave above this statutory minimum, typically documented in the employment contract.

Adoption and Surrogacy Leave

Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 contains no statutory adoption leave provision. Adoption does not trigger the statutory maternity leave entitlement under Egyptian law.

Some multinational employers operating in Egypt offer voluntary adoption leave policies. These are not required by law and are granted at the employer's discretion.

Surrogacy leave has no statutory basis under Egyptian law. Foreign employers using an Employer of Record to hire in Egypt should document any voluntary adoption or surrogacy leave policy directly in the employment contract to ensure clarity and enforceability.

Global leave compliance should come with clear pricing

Compare transparent country-specific pricing for compliant employment, payroll, leave administration, and expert support before expanding your workforce globally.

Check our insane pricing

Bereavement Leave

Egyptian employees are entitled to three days of paid bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member. Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, immediate family includes a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.

This is a statutory entitlement, not a discretionary benefit. Bereavement leave is counted separately from annual leave and does not reduce an employee's annual leave balance.

Many employers voluntarily extend bereavement leave beyond the three-day statutory minimum, particularly for senior employees or in cases involving extended family members.

Other Leave Types

Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 introduced several updates to leave entitlements beyond the core categories.

Study and exam leave is now a statutory right. Employees are entitled to paid leave on actual exam days. This leave does not count against annual leave. Employees must give at least 10 days advance notice and provide proof of exam attendance after the fact.

Voting leave is not specified under Egyptian law. Elections in Egypt typically run over two to three days, with extended polling hours, so most employees can vote outside working hours without requiring formal leave.

Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 also formally recognizes new work patterns, including remote work, part-time arrangements, flexible schedules, and job sharing. Employees under these arrangements receive leave entitlements calculated on a proportional basis relative to their contracted hours.

Employers managing workers across multiple arrangements should track leave balances separately for each work pattern to maintain accurate records and comply with statutory requirements.

Carry-Forward and Leave Encashment Rules

Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, employees in Egypt may accumulate unused annual leave for a maximum of two years. Employers must grant or encash the accumulated balance at least once every three years.

On termination of employment, the employer must pay out all remaining unused annual leave days in full. This obligation applies regardless of the reason for termination.

Employees must take at least 15 days of annual leave per year, with a minimum of 6 consecutive days taken in a single block. Casual and emergency leave counted within annual leave follows the same carry-forward rules as standard annual leave.

One exception applies to disabled employees, whose 45-day annual leave entitlement may not be split, carried over, or deferred. Employers managing multi-country workforces can compare these rules with the leave policy in the UK, where carry-forward and encashment obligations differ significantly.

What our clients are saying

“China's employment regulations are highly nuanced, and we needed confidence that our offers would meet local expectations without risking compliance issues or losing candidates.”

HR Manager

Agratas Corp UK

Read Case Study

Best Practices for Managing Leave Compliantly in Egypt

Employers operating in Egypt should act on four areas to stay compliant under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025.

• Statutory compliance: Update all employment contracts and HR policies to reflect the new law before its 1 September 2025 effective date. Submit the required employee data report to the Ministry of Labor by 1 October 2025 under Article 8, and update that report each January.
• Communicating entitlements: Document updated entitlements in offer letters and employee handbooks in Arabic, as required by law. Key figures to include: 120-day maternity leave, 1-day paternity leave, 7-day casual leave, and 15-day annual leave in year one.
• Documenting requests and approvals: Retain records of leave requests, approvals, medical certificates, and exam attendance proofs. The Ministry of Labor may audit these records at any time.
• Flexibility above the statutory floor: Consider offering voluntary adoption leave, extended paternity leave, and flexible work arrangements, all now recognized under the new law. These additions support talent retention in Egypt's competitive hiring market. Using employer of record software helps track these obligations centrally across your workforce.

Managing Leave Policy in Egypt with Gloroots

Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 introduces simultaneous changes to maternity duration, paternity entitlements, annual leave structure, carry-forward rules, and mandatory salary increments. Each change requires coordinated updates across HR records, payroll calculations, and statutory filings.

Gloroots manages social insurance registration with NOSI, calculates the 18.75% employer contribution, and applies the EGP 10,900/month ($217/month) maternity pay cap correctly across payroll runs. These calculations run in parallel with contract updates, so nothing falls out of sync when the law changes.

Typical onboarding for an Egypt-based employee through Gloroots takes one to two weeks. During that window, Gloroots handles employment contracts, statutory registrations, and benefit enrollment under local law.

To review how Gloroots structures country-specific employment, visit the EOR services page or check pricing for Egypt-specific rates.

Start managing global leave with one trusted platform

Set up compliant leave tracking, payroll coordination, and reporting for every country where your team employs people today.

Start for Free

Frequently Asked Questions About Leave Policy in Egypt

How much annual leave does an employee get in their first year versus later years?

Employees qualify for annual leave only after completing six consecutive months of service. At that point, they receive 21 working days per year.

After ten years of total service, or upon reaching age 50, the entitlement increases to 30 working days per year. Employees in hazardous or unhealthy environments receive an additional seven days on top of their standard entitlement.

What are the mandatory public holidays and does holiday pay carry a premium?

Egypt observes approximately 21 public holidays per year, covering both fixed dates such as Coptic Christmas and Labour Day, and variable Islamic observances tied to the lunar calendar.

Public holidays are excluded from annual leave counts. Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to a pay premium under Egyptian labor law, though the specific rate is set by the employer in line with statutory minimums.

What paternity leave does the new law provide?

Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 introduced statutory paternity leave in Egypt for the first time. Male employees are now entitled to paid paternity leave following the birth of a child.

The previous legal framework provided no paternity entitlement at all, leaving any leave granted entirely at employer discretion. The new law changes that baseline for all covered employers.

How long is maternity leave and who pays for it?

Female employees who have worked for the same employer for at least one year are entitled to 90 days of paid maternity leave. Leave can begin up to 45 days before the expected due date.

The government covers 75% of the employee's last salary for 120 days through social insurance. Employers are required to pay the remaining 25%, though in practice many employers cover the full salary for the full 90-day period.

Can employees carry forward unused annual leave or receive a cash payout?

Employees in Egypt can carry forward up to 30 unused annual leave days to the following year. This is the statutory maximum; days beyond that threshold cannot be rolled over.

Egyptian labor law requires employees to take at least 15 days of leave per year, with at least six of those days taken consecutively. Encashment of unused leave during active employment is not a general statutory right and depends on employer policy.

What happens to unused leave when an employee's contract ends?

On termination, employees are entitled to receive payment for any accrued but unused annual leave. This applies regardless of whether the termination is initiated by the employer or the employee.

The payout is calculated based on the employee's last salary rate. Employers must account for this liability when planning workforce changes, as it forms part of the statutory end-of-service settlement under Egyptian labor law.

How much annual leave are employees entitled to in Egypt?

Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, employees receive 15 working days in their first year, pro-rated if they have served between 6 and 12 months. From the second year onward, entitlement rises to 21 working days. After 10 years of service, or from age 50, employees receive 30 days annually.

Are public holidays paid in Egypt, and what happens if an employee works on one?

Egypt has approximately 13 to 15 official paid public holidays per year under Ministerial Decree No. 294 of 2025. All are fully paid. Employees required to work on a public holiday receive 200% of their normal daily wage: their regular pay plus a 100% supplement.

Does Egypt have statutory paternity leave?

Yes. Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, Article 128, introduced 1 paid day of paternity leave on the child's birth date. This entitlement is available up to 3 times during employment and is not deducted from the employee's annual leave balance.

How is maternity leave funded in Egypt?

Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 and Social Insurance Law No. 148 of 2019, maternity leave runs for 120 calendar days. Social security funds 75% of the benefit, capped at $217 per month. The employer covers the remaining 25% of the employee's actual salary.

Can unused annual leave be carried forward in Egypt?

Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, unused annual leave may accumulate for a maximum of two years. Employers must grant or encash the accumulated balance at least once every three years. Employees must still take a minimum of 15 days of leave per year.

What happens to unused leave when an employee's contract ends in Egypt?

Egyptian labor law requires employers to pay out all unused annual leave days when employment ends. Employers must also pay severance of at least two months' salary per year of service. Both obligations apply whether the termination is voluntary or involuntary.