In Egypt, effectively managing employee leave policies is not just a legal requirement but also 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.

Annual Leave (Vacation)

• Full-time employees in Egypt are entitled to 21 working days of paid annual leave per year if they have been employed for at least six consecutive months. The annual leave quota increases to 30 days for employees who have completed ten years of service, regardless of whether this service is with one employer or multiple employers. Additionally, employees aged 50 years or more are entitled to 30 days of annual leave.

• Employees in Egypt  working in dangerous or unhealthy environments are granted an additional 7 days of paid leave. 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.

Public Holidays

Sick Days

Employees in Egypt are entitled to 180 days of paid sick leave per year. For the first 90 days, employees receive 75% of their regular salary. This rate increases to 85% for the remaining 90 days. Employees with chronic diseases are entitled to 100% of their salary for an indefinite period. A medical certificate from a competent authority is required to qualify for sick leave. During sick leave, employees enjoy job security and cannot be terminated on these grounds. If an employee exhausts their sick leave but requires additional time off, they can convert their annual leave to cover the extended absence.

Maternity Leave

• Female employees in Egypt  are entitled to 90 days of paid maternity leave, which can start up to 45 days before the expected due date. This entitlement applies only if the employee has worked for the same employer for at least one year. Employees must provide a 45-day notice period before commencing their maternity leave.
• Maternity pay is covered by the government at 75% of the employee’s last salary for 120 days. While the law requires employers to pay 25% of the salary, it is common practice for employers to cover the entire 100% of the salary for the full 90 days. During maternity leave, employees are guaranteed job protection and must return to work within 45 days after the leave ends.
• 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. Additionally, female employees in organizations with more than 50 employees can opt for up to 2 years of unpaid maternity leave.

Paternity Leave

There are currently no legal provisions for paternity leave in Egypt. It is at the employer's discretion whether or not to grant paternity leave.

Parental Leave

Egyptian labor laws do not currently provide for 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.

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.

Hassle-Free Leave Policy Management in Egypt with Gloroots

At Gloroots, we understand that managing leave policies can be daunting, especially when expanding your business and hiring across borders. Our platform ensures compliance with Egyptian labor laws, provides clear tracking of leave balances, processes leave requests efficiently, and generates comprehensive leave reports. By partnering with Gloroots, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the complexities of employee leave management. Contact us to discover how Gloroots can transform your HR processes and enhance your business operations.