Leave Policy in Egypt

Egypt leave policy is governed by Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, which took effect September 1, 2025. It updated annual leave tiers, increased maternity leave from 90 to 120 days, and introduced statutory paid paternity leave for the first time. 

Egypt Leave Policy: Complete Guide to Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Holidays (2026) 

In Egypt, managing employee leave policies is a legal requirement and a strategic advantage for businesses aiming to attract and retain top talent. Egyptian labor laws provide explicit guidelines on various types of leave, making it crucial for employers, including those hiring employees from Egypt or through an Employer of Record (EOR) in Egypt, to understand these regulations to ensure compliance and foster a supportive work environment. 

Important update: Egypt enacted Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, effective September 1, 2025, replacing the previous Labor Law No. 137 of 1981. This law introduces significant changes to annual leave tiers, maternity leave duration, and paternity leave entitlements. All leave obligations referenced in this guide reflect the current 2025-2026 framework.

Leave Policy in Egypt Overview 

The table below provides a complete reference for all leave types available under Egyptian labor law as of 2026. Each row shows the entitlement, pay rate, and key compliance rule for employers.

Annual Leave (Vacation) 

Full-time employees in Egypt are entitled to paid annual leave based on tenure, age, and work conditions. The table below summarizes the tiered entitlements under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 (effective September 1, 2025).

Public holidays, official days off, and weekly rest days are excluded from the annual leave days. Typically, employers decide the leave days based on work demands and conditions, and employees are expected to comply. However, employees sitting for exams may decide on leave days, provided they notify the employer at least 15 days in advance. 

Unused leave can be carried over to the next year, with a maximum of 30 days allowed to be rolled over. Employees in Egypt must take at least 15 days of leave annually, with at least 6 of those days taken consecutively. 

• Carry-forward limit: A maximum of 30 unused annual leave days can roll over to the following year. Any unused leave beyond 30 days is forfeited and cannot be carried forward or paid out on termination unless otherwise agreed. 

• Consecutive requirement: Employees must take at least 6 of their annual leave days consecutively in a single block. This is a statutory minimum, not a discretionary arrangement. 

Public Holidays 

Egypt observes a combination of fixed national holidays and Islamic holidays (which follow the lunar calendar and are tentative each year).

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Sick Days 

Employees in Egypt are entitled to up to 180 days of paid sick leave per year, with pay tiered by duration and condition. Note: Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, the employer directly pays sick leave for up to 21 days. Extended sick leave beyond 21 days is covered through Egypt's Social Insurance system. The 75/85/100% tiered rates below reflect Social Insurance provisions, which remain unchanged under the new law.

• Medical certificate required: A certificate from a competent medical authority (government hospital, licensed physician, or insurer-approved doctor) is required to qualify for any sick leave beyond the first day. 

• Job protection during sick leave: Employees cannot be dismissed or have their employment terminated on the grounds of being on sick leave. This protection applies throughout the sick leave period. 

• Conversion to annual leave: If an employee exhausts all 180 days of sick leave entitlement but still requires time off, they may convert their unused annual leave balance to cover the additional absence.

Maternity Leave 

Eligibility: Female employees in Egypt qualify for maternity leave if they have worked for the same employer for at least one year. 

Duration (updated under Law No. 14/2025): 120 days (4 months) of paid maternity leave, which can start before the expected due date. This entitlement can be used up to three times during an employee's total career. 

Pay split: The government covers 75% of the employee's last salary for 120 days. The law requires employers to pay the remaining 25%. In common practice, employers cover the full 100% of the salary for the full 120 days. 

Job protection: Employees are guaranteed job protection during maternity leave and must return to work within 45 days after the leave ends. 

Nursing breaks: Upon returning to work, mothers are entitled to two fully paid nursing breaks of 30 minutes each per day for up to two years after the birth of the child. 

Unpaid extension: Female employees in organizations with more than 50 employees can opt for up to 2 years of unpaid maternity leave. Under the new law, this can be exercised up to three times during the employee's career. 

Paternity Leave

Update under Law No. 14 of 2025: Egypt now provides statutory paid paternity leave. Male employees are entitled to paid leave on the day of their child's birth. This entitlement can be used up to three times during an employee's career and is not deducted from the annual leave balance. 

This represents a significant change from the previous law. Employers must update employment contracts and HR policies to reflect this new statutory entitlement. 

Parental Leave 

Egyptian labor laws do not currently provide for general shared parental leave. However, recommendations for shared parental leave have been proposed. Female employees needing additional leave after exhausting their maternity leave can opt for unpaid leave. 

Casual Leave 

Employees in Egypt are entitled to up to 6 days of casual leave per year, without needing to provide a reason. A maximum of 2 days can be taken at a time. Casual leave is counted as part of the annual leave. 

Other Leaves 

Care leave in Egypt allows employees to take up to 9 days of paid leave to look after a child under 10 or a sick family member, with Social Security covering 60% of their gross salary. Single parents can extend this to 16 days for children up to 16 years old. 

For long-term care leave, employees can take up to 90 days to care for a family member who has been hospitalized for at least 7 days and requires care for at least 30 days. Social Security pays 60% of the employee's gross salary, with written consent required from the family member. 

Employees in Egypt are entitled to 2 days of leave for their wedding, with one day paid. In the event of the death of an immediate family member, employees can take up to three days of paid bereavement leave. 

Employers in Egypt must provide unpaid leave for employees serving as jurors, witnesses, or parties in a court case, with proof of the summons required. Employees are entitled to leave for compulsory military service, substitute military service, military exercises, and civilian service duties. 

Pilgrimage leave entitles employees with 5 years of continuous service to 30 days of paid leave for pilgrimage, available once in their career. 

Study Leave 

Some employers in Egypt offer study leave to their employees, although it is not mandatory. The duration and pay for study leave vary according to the employer and industry. 

Carry Forward Leave 

Employees in Egypt can carry forward up to 30 unused annual leave days to the next year, as per Egyptian labor law. Days exceeding this limit are forfeited and cannot be compensated unless agreed upon termination. 

Special Leave 

Special leaves in Egypt are not mandated by law but may be granted by employers for reasons such as caring for a sick family member, bereavement, attending funerals, and other personal occasions. The duration and pay for special leaves vary according to the employer and industry. 

Key Employer Compliance Obligations for Leave in Egypt 

The table below provides a quick reference for employer obligations under Egyptian labor law. This covers the most common compliance gaps for foreign companies hiring in Egypt.

Leave Policy Management in Egypt with Gloroots 

Managing Egypt leave compliance is more complex in 2026 than it was before. Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 changed annual leave tiers, increased maternity leave from 90 to 120 days, introduced statutory paternity leave, and added disability leave entitlements, all requiring immediate updates to employment contracts and payroll systems. 

Gloroots handles this for companies hiring in Egypt through an Employer of Record, so compliance gaps don't become liabilities: 

• Employment contracts that reflect the current law: Every Egypt-based employee hired through Gloroots receives a contract aligned with Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, including updated maternity leave duration, new paternity leave clauses, and the correct annual leave tier for their year of service 

• Payroll accuracy for tiered leave pay: Sick leave at 75%, 85%, or 100% based on day count and condition, maternity leave pay splits between government Social Insurance and employer contribution, and nursing break entitlements are calculated and administered automatically 

• Leave balance tracking and request management: Annual leave accruals by tier, casual leave within the annual leave cap, pilgrimage leave eligibility after 5 years, and carry-forward limits are all tracked centrally across your Egypt team 

• Regulatory updates applied automatically: When Egyptian labor law changes, Gloroots updates payroll logic and contract templates. Your HR team doesn't need to monitor legislative changes manually or re-paper employment contracts every time a law is amended 

The benefits of EOR for Egypt-based teams extend beyond compliance. Gloroots handles statutory filings with the Egyptian Social Insurance Authority, manages holiday pay schedules, and provides your Finance team with clear, auditable leave cost data. Understanding the employer of record cost upfront helps you plan Egypt headcount budgets accurately.

Ready to build a compliant Egypt team without the administrative burden?
We run payroll, leave management, and statutory compliance for your Egypt-based employees from day one.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Egypt Leave Policy 

What changed in Egypt's leave policy under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025? 

Egypt's new Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 (effective September 1, 2025) introduced four major changes to leave policy. First, annual leave is now tiered by year of service: 15 days in Year 1, 21 days from Year 2, and 30 days after 10 years or at age 50+. A new 45-day entitlement was added for employees with disabilities. Second, maternity leave increased from 90 to 120 days (4 months) and can now be used up to three times during an employee's career. Third, paid paternity leave was introduced for the first time, giving male employees leave on the day of their child's birth, available up to three times, and not counted against the annual leave balance. Fourth, childcare leave entitlements for women were updated. Employers should review all existing employment contracts to ensure they reflect these changes. 

How much annual leave are employees entitled to in Egypt? 

Under Law No. 14 of 2025, annual leave in Egypt is tiered by tenure. Employees in their first year of service receive 15 working days. From the second year onwards, this increases to 21 days. After completing 10 years of service (with any combination of employers) or upon turning 50, employees are entitled to 30 days. 

Employees with disabilities receive 45 days. Those working in hazardous or unhealthy conditions receive an additional 7 days on top of their base entitlement. Public holidays, weekly rest days, and official days off are excluded from the annual leave count. Employers determine the timing of leave based on operational needs, but employees must take at least 15 days per year and at least 6 of those days must be consecutive. 

What is the maternity leave entitlement in Egypt in 2026? 

Female employees in Egypt who have worked for the same employer for at least one year are entitled to 120 days (4 months) of paid maternity leave. This is an increase from 90 days under the previous law. 

The leave can begin up to 45 days before the expected due date. Pay is funded jointly: the government's Social Insurance covers 75% and the employer covers 25%, though market practice is for employers to pay 100%. Maternity leave can be used up to three times during an employee's career. Upon returning to work, mothers are entitled to two 30-minute paid nursing breaks per day for up to 2 years. Women at companies with 50 or more employees may also take up to 2 years of unpaid leave after maternity leave ends. 

Is there paternity leave in Egypt? 

Yes, as of September 1, 2025. Egypt's Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 introduced statutory paid paternity leave for the first time. Male employees are entitled to paid leave on the day of their child's birth. This can be used up to three times during their career and is not deducted from their annual leave balance. Prior to this law, paternity leave was entirely at the employer's discretion, with no legal entitlement. Employers must update employment contracts and HR policies to include this new statutory right. 

How does sick leave work in Egypt? 

Employees in Egypt are entitled to up to 180 days of paid sick leave per year. Pay is tiered based on duration and condition: 75% of salary for days 1 to 90, 85% for days 91 to 180, and 100% for employees with chronic or serious conditions. A medical certificate from a recognized authority is required to qualify. Employees cannot be terminated while on sick leave. If an employee exhausts their sick leave entitlement and still needs time off, they may convert unused annual leave to cover the additional absence. Under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, the employer directly pays sick leave for up to 21 days. Extended sick leave beyond this is funded through Egypt's Social Insurance Authority. 

Can Egyptian employers refuse annual leave requests? 

Employers in Egypt have the right to determine the timing of annual leave based on operational requirements. Employees are generally expected to comply with the employer's scheduling decisions. However, employees must take a minimum of 15 days of annual leave per year, with at least 6 of those days taken consecutively. This is a legal minimum the employer cannot override. Employees sitting for examinations have the right to choose their leave dates, provided they give the employer at least 15 days' notice. Unused leave beyond the 30-day carry-forward cap is forfeited. Employees cannot be forced to forgo their statutory minimum leave entitlement. 

Do foreign companies need to follow Egyptian leave laws when hiring locally? 

Yes. Any company employing workers in Egypt, regardless of where the parent company is registered, must comply with Egyptian labor law, including all leave entitlements. This applies to subsidiaries, branch offices, and employment through an Employer of Record. Non-compliance can result in administrative penalties, employee disputes, and termination challenges before Egyptian labor courts. Foreign companies that do not want to register a local entity can use an EOR to ensure compliant employment without direct setup in Egypt. The pros and cons of employer of record for Egypt are particularly favorable for companies with small initial headcounts who need immediate compliance without entity formation costs.