All employees in Lesotho, as per the Labour Code Act of 1992, are entitled to a minimum of 12 working days of paid annual leave for each full year of continuous employment with the same employer. This means that for every month of work, one working day of leave is accrued.

Entitlement

The accrual of annual leave happens on a monthly basis throughout the year of employment.

Scheduling

The employer and the employee should mutually agree upon the timing of annual leave, taking into consideration operational needs.

Partial Leave

Employees have the right to take their annual leave in portions. However, at least six consecutive working days must be taken at once during the calendar year in which the leave is due.

Carry-Over

Unused annual leave days can be carried over by employees to the next calendar year. However, the total accumulated leave cannot exceed 18 working days.

Pay During Leave

During their annual leave period, employees must receive their full normal wages.

The Kingdom of Lesotho observes several public holidays throughout the year.

• New Year's Day (January 1): This day marks the beginning of a new calendar year.
• Moshoeshoe's Day (March 11): This day celebrates the founder of the Basotho nation, King Moshoeshoe I.
• Good Friday (Variable): A Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
• Easter Monday (Variable): This Christian holiday is observed the day after Easter Sunday.
• Workers' Day (May 1): Also known as International Workers' Day or Labor Day, this day recognizes the labor movement and workers' contributions.
• Ascension Day (Variable): This Christian holiday is observed 40 days after Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ's ascension to heaven.
• Africa Day / Heroes' Day (May 25): This day celebrates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) and commemorates African liberation.
• King's Birthday (July 17): This day celebrates the birthday of the reigning King of Lesotho, currently King Letsie III.
• Independence Day (October 4): This day commemorates Lesotho's independence from Great Britain in 1966.
• Christmas Day (December 25): A Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Boxing Day (December 26): This day is celebrated the day after Christmas Day.

In Lesotho, the Labour Code Act of 1992 outlines the primary types of leave available to employees.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to 12 working days of annual leave for each 12-month cycle of continuous employment. This translates to one working day of leave accrued for every month of work. The scheduling of this leave is determined by mutual agreement between employer and employee. Employees must receive their normal wages while on annual leave.

Sick Leave

Employees with at least six months of continuous service are entitled to 12 working days of sick leave with full pay per 12-month cycle, and 24 working days of sick leave with half pay per 12-month cycle. Medical certification is required to support sick leave claims.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, starting six weeks before the expected due date. There is no statutory requirement for paid maternity leave, but employers may have their own policies or collective agreements in place.

Family Responsibility Leave

Employees are entitled to three days of paid leave per year to attend to family responsibilities.

Other Types of Leave

While not explicitly mentioned in the Labour Code, many employers offer bereavement leave as part of their policies. Some employers may also provide study leave for employees pursuing further education relevant to their work.