Chad's labor laws provide employees with various entitlements to time off, ensuring a balance between work and personal life. These provisions cover essential needs such as annual rest, public celebrations, illness, and significant life events like the arrival of a child. Understanding these regulations is crucial for employers operating within the country to ensure compliance and support their workforce effectively.
Navigating the specifics of leave policies, including minimum durations, eligibility criteria, and compensation during absence, is a key aspect of managing employees in Chad. Adhering to these legal requirements helps foster a positive working environment and ensures fair treatment for all employees.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Chad are entitled to paid annual leave after a period of continuous service with the same employer. The minimum duration of this leave is determined by the employee's length of service.
- Minimum Entitlement: Employees are generally entitled to 1.5 working days of paid leave per month of service. This accrues to 18 working days per year.
- Increased Entitlement: The entitlement increases for employees based on their seniority. For example, after 20 years of service, the entitlement increases to 2 working days per month (24 working days per year).
- Accumulation: Annual leave can typically be accumulated over a certain period, often up to two years, by agreement between the employer and employee.
- Timing: The timing of annual leave is usually determined by the employer, taking into account the needs of the business and the preferences of the employee.
Public Holidays
Chad observes several public holidays throughout the year. Employees are generally entitled to a paid day off on these dates. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following working day may be observed, though this can vary.
Here are the anticipated public holidays for 2025:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| April 20 | Easter Sunday |
| April 21 | Easter Monday |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| May 25 | Africa Day |
| June 6 | Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) |
| August 11 | Independence Day |
| November 1 | All Saints' Day |
| December 1 | Republic Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| Variable | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| Variable | Prophet's Birthday |
Note: Dates for religious holidays like Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, and Prophet's Birthday are based on the lunar calendar and are approximate until officially announced.
Sick Leave
Employees in Chad are entitled to sick leave in case of illness or injury that prevents them from working.
- Eligibility: Employees must typically provide a medical certificate from a recognized health professional to justify their absence due to sickness.
- Duration and Pay: The duration and payment terms for sick leave can vary based on the employee's length of service. Generally, an employee is entitled to full pay for a certain period, followed by reduced pay for a subsequent period, up to a maximum duration.
- For employees with less than 1 year of service: Entitlement to full pay for a limited period (e.g., 1 month), followed by half pay for another limited period (e.g., 2 months).
- For employees with 1 to 5 years of service: Entitlement to full pay for a longer period (e.g., 2 months), followed by half pay for a subsequent period (e.g., 4 months).
- For employees with more than 5 years of service: Entitlement to full pay for an even longer period (e.g., 3 months), followed by half pay for a subsequent period (e.g., 6 months).
- Job Protection: An employee's contract is generally suspended during sick leave, and their job is protected for the duration of the legally permitted sick leave period.
Parental Leave
Parental leave provisions in Chad primarily focus on maternity leave, with specific entitlements for female employees.
Maternity Leave
- Duration: Pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave, typically totaling 14 weeks. This period usually includes 6 weeks before the expected date of birth and 8 weeks after the birth.
- Pay: During maternity leave, employees are entitled to receive benefits, often paid by the National Social Security Fund (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale - CNSS), equivalent to their full salary.
- Job Protection: An employee's employment contract is suspended during maternity leave, and she is protected from dismissal during this period and for a certain time after returning to work.
- Nursing Breaks: Upon returning to work, mothers are generally entitled to paid nursing breaks during the workday for a specified period (e.g., up to one year after the birth).
Paternity Leave
While not as extensive as maternity leave, some provisions or company policies may allow for a short period of paid leave for fathers around the time of childbirth. Specific statutory paternity leave entitlements may be limited or non-existent under general labor law, though collective agreements or company policies might provide for it.
Adoption Leave
Specific statutory provisions for adoption leave are less common under general labor law compared to maternity leave. Any entitlements would likely be based on company policy or individual negotiation.
Other Types of Leave
Chad's labor code and common practice may recognize other types of leave for specific circumstances.
- Bereavement Leave: Employees may be granted a short period of paid leave in the event of the death of a close family member (e.g., spouse, child, parent). The duration is typically a few days.
- Marriage Leave: Employees may be entitled to a few days of paid leave for their own marriage.
- Leave for Family Events: Short periods of paid leave may be granted for other significant family events, such as the marriage of a child or the birth of a grandchild.
- Study Leave/Sabbatical: There are generally no statutory entitlements to long-term study leave or sabbaticals under the standard labor code. Such arrangements would typically be at the discretion of the employer or governed by specific collective agreements.
