Leave in Botswana

Managing employee leave entitlements is a critical aspect of workforce management in Botswana. Employers must navigate the country's labor laws to ensure compliance with statutory requirements regarding various types of leave, including annual vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave. Understanding these regulations is essential for maintaining fair labor practices and operational efficiency.

Botswana's employment legislation sets out minimum standards for employee leave, providing a framework that employers must adhere to. While companies may offer more generous leave benefits, they cannot provide less than the statutory minimums. This guide outlines the key leave entitlements applicable in Botswana for 2026, helping employers understand their obligations.

Annual Vacation Leave

Employees in Botswana are entitled to a minimum period of paid annual leave. The specific entitlement often depends on the employee's length of service.

• Minimum Entitlement: Generally, employees are entitled to a minimum of 15 working days of paid annual leave per year.
• Accrual: Leave typically accrues based on the period of service.
• Timing: The timing of annual leave is usually agreed upon between the employer and employee, taking into account business needs.
• Carry-over: Regulations may specify limitations on carrying over unused leave from one year to the next.

Here is a summary of the standard minimum annual leave entitlement:

Leave Type	Minimum Entitlement	Notes
Annual Vacation	15 working days	Per year, typically after 1 year of service

Public Holidays

Botswana observes several public holidays throughout the year. Employees are generally entitled to a paid day off on these holidays. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to premium pay, often at double the ordinary rate.

Here are the anticipated public holidays for Botswana in 2026:

Date	Day of Week	Holiday Name
January 1	Thursday	New Year's Day
January 2	Friday	Public Holiday
April 3	Friday	Good Friday
April 4	Saturday	Holy Saturday
April 6	Monday	Easter Monday
May 1	Friday	Labour Day
May 14	Thursday	Ascension Day
July 1	Wednesday	Sir Seretse Khama Day
July 20	Monday	President's Day
July 21	Tuesday	President's Day Holiday
September 30	Wednesday	Botswana Day
October 1	Thursday	Botswana Day Holiday
December 25	Friday	Christmas Day
December 26	Saturday	Boxing Day

Note: If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically observed as a public holiday.

Sick Leave

Employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury are entitled to paid sick leave, provided they meet certain conditions, such as providing a valid medical certificate.

• Entitlement: Employees are typically entitled to a certain number of days of paid sick leave per year.
• Certification: A medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner is usually required, especially for absences exceeding a specified duration (e.g., two consecutive days).
• Pay: Sick leave is generally paid at the employee's ordinary rate of pay for a specified period.

Summary of typical sick leave entitlements:

Leave Type	Entitlement	Pay Rate	Conditions
Sick Leave	Varies, often linked to service length/period	Ordinary rate for paid period	Requires medical certificate for longer periods

Specific entitlements can vary based on the relevant labor instrument or contract, but the law provides minimum standards.

Parental Leave

Botswana law provides for maternity leave for female employees. While statutory paternity and adoption leave are not as extensively regulated as maternity leave, some employers may offer such benefits.

• Maternity Leave: Female employees are entitled to maternity leave.
  • Duration: The statutory minimum maternity leave is 14 weeks.
  • Timing: This leave can usually be taken starting a few weeks before the expected date of confinement and continuing after the birth.
  • Pay: Maternity leave is paid at 70% of the employee's ordinary rate of pay.
• Paternity Leave: There is a statutory entitlement to paternity leave in Botswana.
  • Duration: The statutory minimum paternity leave is 5 days.
  • Conditions: Additional leave may be granted if the mother is incapacitated.
• Adoption Leave: There is a statutory entitlement to adoption leave in Botswana.
  • Duration: The statutory minimum adoption leave is 10 weeks.
  • Conditions: Applicable for adopting children under the age of two.

Summary of statutory parental leave:

Leave Type	Duration	Pay	Notes
Maternity Leave	14 weeks	70% of ordinary rate	Requires medical certificate of pregnancy
Paternity Leave	5 days	Not specified	Additional leave if mother is incapacitated
Adoption Leave	10 weeks	Not specified	For adopting children under the age of two

Other Leave Types

Beyond the primary categories, employees may be entitled to or granted other types of leave depending on specific circumstances or company policy.

• Bereavement Leave: While not always a statutory requirement, many employers grant a few days of paid leave to employees in the event of the death of a close family member.
• Study Leave: Some employers may provide paid or unpaid leave for employees pursuing further education or training relevant to their job, often subject to specific conditions and agreements. This is typically based on company policy rather than statutory law.
• Sabbatical Leave: Longer periods of leave for personal development, rest, or other purposes are not statutory entitlements but may be offered by employers, usually to long-serving employees, as part of retention or reward programs.
• Shop Steward Leave: Employees who are appointed as shop stewards may be entitled to reasonable time off to perform their duties, as outlined in labor laws or collective agreements.

Employers should consult the specific provisions of the Employment Act and any applicable collective agreements or individual employment contracts to ensure full compliance with all leave entitlements in Botswana.