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Nepal

Vacation and Leave Policies

Understand the regulations on vacation and other types of leave in Nepal

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Holiday leave

In Nepal, labor laws provide employees with several types of vacation leave, offering opportunities for rest and personal time off.

Home Leave

Employees who have completed one year of continuous service are entitled to one day of home leave for every 20 working days. Home leave can be accumulated for up to 90 days. If unused, it lapses at the end of the year.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to 12 days of sick leave per year on half pay. Sick leave can be accumulated for up to 45 days. Employers may require medical certification to substantiate sick leave requests.

Festival Leave

Employees are entitled to paid leave for festivals observed based on their religion, culture, and tradition. The amount of leave is equivalent to their basic monthly salary.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. This leave can be taken either before or after delivery.

Paternity Leave

Male employees are entitled to 15 days of paid paternity leave.

Public holidays

Nepali New Year, also known as Naya Barsha, usually falls in mid-April and marks the beginning of the Bikram Sambat calendar. It's a joyous time of celebrations and feasts. Republic Day, or Ganatantra Diwas, is celebrated on May 28th and commemorates the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008. Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Diwas, is observed on September 19th and marks the promulgation of Nepal's new constitution in 2015.

Hindu Festivals

Dashain is the most significant and longest Hindu festival in Nepal, typically celebrated for 15 days in September or October. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Tihar, also known as Deepawali, is the festival of lights, celebrated for five days in late October or early November. It honors the goddess Laxmi (goddess of wealth) and animals like crows, dogs, and cows. Maha Shivaratri is devoted to Lord Shiva and is observed in February or March with fasting, offerings, and all-night vigils. Holi, the vibrant festival of colors, is celebrated in February or March, signifying the triumph of good over evil and welcoming spring.

Buddhist Festivals

Buddha Jayanti marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. It's usually celebrated in May. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is celebrated by the Tibetan community in Nepal, usually in February or March.

Other Notable Holidays

Democracy Day, or Prajatantra Diwas, is celebrated on February 19th and commemorates the end of the Rana Dynasty's autocratic rule in 1951. International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, is observed on May 1st and honors the labor movement. Gai Jatra, or the Cow Festival, is a unique festival usually celebrated in August, where families who have lost loved ones during the year parade cows through the streets. Teej is a festival primarily celebrated by Hindu women, usually in August or September, focused on fasting and prayers for marital well-being.

Please note that many Nepali holidays follow the lunar calendar, so the exact dates change each year.

Types of leave

In Nepal, employees are entitled to various types of leave, each with its own set of rules and regulations.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to 18 days of paid annual leave per year, which equates to 1 day for every 20 working days. Unused annual leave can be accumulated up to a maximum of 90 days. This is as per the Labor Act 2074 (2017), Section 80.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to 12 days of paid sick leave per year. Unused sick leave can be accumulated up to a maximum of 45 days. Employees may be required to provide a medical certificate for absences exceeding three days. This is as per the Labor Act 2074 (2017), Section 81.

Home Leave

Employees are entitled to 1 day of paid home leave for every 20 days of work. However, employees must obtain prior approval from their manager before taking home leave. This is as per the Labor Act 2074 (2017), Section 82.

Bereavement Leave

In the event of the death of a family member, employees are entitled to 13 days of paid leave. This is as per the Labor Act 2074 (2017), Section 85.

Maternity Leave

Women are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, including both pre-natal and post-natal leave. This is as per the Labor Act 2074 (2017), Section 87.

Paternity Leave

Men are entitled to 15 days of paid paternity leave. This is as per the Labor Regulations 2075 (2018), Rule 29.

Compensatory Leave

Employees required to work on weekly offs are entitled to compensatory leave within 21 days. This is as per the Labor Act 2074 (2017), Section 79.

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