Employment law in the Maldives provides clear guidelines regarding employee leave entitlements, ensuring that workers receive adequate time off for rest, illness, and significant life events. Understanding these regulations is crucial for employers operating within the country to ensure compliance and maintain fair labor practices. These entitlements cover various types of leave, including annual vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave, each with specific conditions and requirements.
Navigating the specifics of Maldivian leave policies requires attention to detail, from calculating annual leave accrual to observing national holidays and managing requests for sick or parental leave. Adhering to these regulations helps foster a positive work environment and ensures legal compliance for businesses employing individuals in the Maldives.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in the Maldives are entitled to a minimum amount of paid annual leave. The standard entitlement is 30 days of paid leave per year. This leave typically accrues over the period of employment.
- Entitlement: Minimum 30 days per year.
- Accrual: Leave accrues based on the duration of employment.
- Usage: Employees are generally entitled to take their accrued leave. Specific company policies may dictate how leave requests are submitted and approved, but the statutory entitlement must be met.
- Carry Over: Regulations may permit carrying over a portion of unused annual leave to the following year, subject to specific limits defined by law or employment contracts.
Public Holidays
The Maldives observes several public holidays throughout the year, during which employees are typically entitled to a paid day off. The specific dates for some holidays, particularly those based on the Islamic calendar, vary each year.
Here are some of the commonly observed public holidays:
| Holiday | Basis | Typical Timing (Gregorian) |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fixed | January 1 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Islamic | Varies |
| Labour Day | Fixed | May 1 |
| Eid al-Adha | Islamic | Varies |
| Islamic New Year | Islamic | Varies |
| National Day | Fixed/Lunar | Varies (based on lunar) |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Islamic | Varies |
| Republic Day | Fixed | November 11 |
| Victory Day | Fixed | November 3 |
- Variable Dates: Islamic holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday) are determined by the lunar calendar and their exact dates are announced closer to the time.
- Compensation: If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to premium pay, often double their regular wage for the hours worked.
Sick Leave
Employees in the Maldives are entitled to paid sick leave when they are unable to work due to illness or injury.
- Entitlement: Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave per year.
- Certification: Employers may require a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner for absences due to illness, especially for periods exceeding a certain duration (e.g., more than two consecutive days).
- Pay: Sick leave is typically paid at the employee's regular wage rate for the entitled duration.
Parental Leave
Maldivian law provides entitlements for parental leave, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, to support employees during significant family events.
Maternity Leave
- Entitlement: Female employees are entitled to paid maternity leave. The standard entitlement is 60 days.
- Eligibility: Typically requires a minimum period of employment with the current employer.
- Pay: Maternity leave is usually paid at the employee's full wage rate.
- Timing: Leave can usually be taken before and after childbirth, according to the employee's needs and medical advice.
Paternity Leave
- Entitlement: Male employees are entitled to paid paternity leave upon the birth of their child. The standard entitlement is 3 days.
- Eligibility: Requires the employee to be the legal father of the child.
- Pay: Paternity leave is typically paid at the employee's full wage rate.
Adoption Leave
- Entitlement: Employees who adopt a child may also be entitled to leave, though specific statutory provisions and durations may differ from maternity leave and should be confirmed based on current regulations.
Other Types of Leave
Beyond the primary categories, employees in the Maldives may be entitled to other types of leave under specific circumstances, as defined by law or company policy.
- Bereavement Leave: Employees are typically entitled to a short period of paid leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member.
- Study Leave: Some employers may offer study leave to employees pursuing further education or training relevant to their role, though this is often subject to company policy rather than statutory requirement.
- Hajj Leave: Muslim employees may be entitled to unpaid leave to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, subject to certain conditions and frequency limitations.
- Marriage Leave: Some companies may offer a few days of paid leave for an employee's marriage, though this is often a company benefit rather than a statutory right.
