In the Republic of North Macedonia, employees are granted a minimum of 20 working days of paid vacation leave each year, as stipulated by the Labor Law of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Seniority Entitlement

The Labor Law also provides additional leave days based on the length of service. For every 5 years of service with the same employer, an employee is entitled to an extra day of vacation leave. The maximum additional leave due to seniority is 6 days, which means the total possible entitlement can reach up to 26 working days.

Eligibility

After six months of continuous employment, employees become eligible for their annual leave entitlement.

Usage

The employer and the employee have the freedom to agree on how the vacation leave is used. However, it is mandatory that one part of the leave consists of at least two uninterrupted weeks. The employer is required to grant at least 12 days of the annual leave within the current calendar year. Any remaining leave days must be utilized by June 30th of the following calendar year.

Other Important Points

Days spent on sick leave (with a proper medical certification) are not deducted from vacation days. Part-time workers are entitled to a prorated amount of vacation leave based on their hours worked. More favorable vacation leave terms than the legal minimums can be provided through collective agreements or individual employment contracts.

In North Macedonia, there are several national holidays celebrated throughout the year. These include:

• New Year's Day (Nova Godina): Celebrated on January 1st and 2nd.
• Orthodox Christmas (Prv den Božik): Celebrated on January 7th.
• Labor Day (Den na trudot): Celebrated on May 1st.
• Macedonian Language Day (Den na makedonskiot jazik): Celebrated on May 5th.
• Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (Sv. Kiril i Metodij, Den na sèslovenskite prosvetiteli): Celebrated on May 24th.
• Republic Day (Ilinden - Den na Republikata): Celebrated on August 2nd.
• Independence Day (Den na nezavisnosta): Celebrated on September 8th.
• Day of the Macedonian Uprising (Den na vostanieto): Celebrated on October 11th.
• St. Clement of Ohrid Day (Den na Sv. Kliment Ohridski): Celebrated on December 8th.

Religious Holidays

In addition to national holidays, there are also religious holidays whose dates vary each year. These include:

• Orthodox Good Friday (Veliki Petok)
• Orthodox Easter Sunday (Veligden)
• Orthodox Easter Monday (Vtor den Veligden)
• Eid al-Fitr (Ramazanski Bajram)
• Eid al-Adha (Kurbanski Bajram)

Notes

If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is usually declared a non-working day. Members of religious communities may be entitled to additional non-working days to celebrate their respective religious holidays.

In the Republic of North Macedonia, the Labor Law outlines regulations for various types of leave.

Annual Paid Leave

Employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of paid leave per year. Those with at least 5 years of service are entitled to an additional day of leave for every 5 years worked, up to a maximum of 26 working days. Employees are eligible for paid leave after six months of continuous employment. Leave is accrued throughout the year, and employees may generally use it as it's earned, in agreement with their employer. At least 12 days of annual leave must be used during the calendar year. Unused leave can be carried over until June 30th of the following year.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave when they are unable to work due to illness or injury, with proper medical certification. The employer is responsible for paying the employee's salary for the first 30 days of sick leave. After the first 30 days, the Health Insurance Fund (Fond za zdravstveno osiguruvanje na Makedonija ) covers the employee's salary payments.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 9 months of maternity leave. This period can begin several weeks before the expected due date. Maternity leave is paid, with the amount determined by relevant regulations.

Other Types of Leave

Employees are entitled to up to 7 days of paid leave for their marriage. Fathers may be entitled to a short period of paid paternity leave according to relevant laws and collective agreements. Employees are entitled to up to 7 days of paid leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Employees may be entitled to leave for military service or defense-related duties. Employees may be entitled to leave for education and training purposes in accordance with the Labor Law and any applicable collective agreements.

Important Notes

Collective agreements or individual employment contracts may provide for more favorable leave terms than the legal minimums. Specific eligibility requirements and documentation may apply to different types of leave.