In Libya, the rights of employees regarding vacation leave are regulated by Law No. 12 of 2010 on Labor Relations. This law stipulates that all employees should receive a minimum of 30 working days of paid vacation leave each year.

Enhanced Entitlement

There are certain conditions under which employees are entitled to an extended leave period. Specifically, employees who are 50 years old or older, or those who have been employed continuously by the same employer for a minimum of 20 years, are entitled to 45 working days of paid vacation leave annually.

Important Considerations

There are certain rules regarding the use of vacation leave. For instance, employees cannot waive their vacation leave or exchange it for cash compensation. The only exception to this rule is upon termination of employment, where the employee is entitled to payment for any unused leave. While employers typically determine the timing of vacation leave, they are required to do so in consultation with the employee.

Libya, a country rich in history and culture, celebrates a variety of public holidays. These holidays are a mix of Islamic religious observances and secular commemorations of significant historical events.

Islamic Holidays

Libya, being a predominantly Muslim country, observes several Islamic holidays:

• Eid al-Fitr: This holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. Celebrations typically last for three days.
• Eid al-Adha: This holiday commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Celebrations typically last for four days.
• Muharram (Islamic New Year): This day marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
• Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday): This holiday celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

It's important to note that the exact dates of Islamic holidays are determined by the lunar calendar and may vary slightly from year to year.

Secular Holidays

In addition to Islamic holidays, Libya also celebrates several secular holidays:

• Revolution Day (February 17th): This day commemorates the start of the Libyan Revolution in 2011.
• Martyrs' Day (September 16th): This day honors those who lost their lives in the struggle for Libyan independence.
• Liberation Day (October 23rd): This day celebrates the liberation from the Gaddafi regime in 2011.
• Independence Day (December 24th): This day marks Libya's independence in 1951.

The Ministry of Labor and Rehabilitation in Libya provides updates and occasional variations on observed holidays.

In Libya, the labor law, primarily through Law No. 12 of 2010 on Labor Relations, outlines various types of leave available to employees.

Annual Leave (Vacation Leave)

Employees in Libya are entitled to a minimum of 30 working days of paid annual leave each year. Employees aged 50 or older, or those who have completed at least 20 years of continuous service with the same employer, are entitled to 45 working days of paid annual leave per year. Additionally, employees may take 20 days of leave, one time during their employment, to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

Sick Leave

The amount of paid sick leave depends on whether the illness is continuous or not. For continuous illness, employees are entitled to 45 days of sick leave per year. For non-continuous illness, entitlement increases to 60 days of sick leave per year. Employers may require a medical certificate to validate sick leave claims.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. This leave must include at least 6 weeks taken after the birth of the child.

Other Types of Leave

While not explicitly addressed in the labor law, some employers may grant a short period of bereavement leave following the death of an employee's close family member. Some employers may also offer study leave for employees pursuing further education relevant to their job.

It's important to note that individual employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements may provide for leave entitlements that exceed the minimum amounts outlined in the labor law.