In Venezuela, employees who have completed one year of continuous service with an employer are entitled to a minimum of 15 working days of paid vacation as per the Labor Law. For each subsequent year of service, employees gain an additional working day of leave, up to a maximum of 30 working days per year.

Vacation Bonus

The Labor Law also provides for a "vacation bonus" for employees. This bonus is paid for each day of leave taken and is separate from the regular salary.

Calculation of the Vacation Bonus

The vacation bonus is calculated based on the regular salary earned by the employee in the month immediately prior to taking their leave. The minimum bonus is equivalent to at least 15 days of regular salary. For each subsequent year of service, employees gain an additional day's worth of bonus, up to a maximum of 30 days of their normal salary.

Other Important Considerations

The law obligates employers to ensure that employees utilize their entitled vacation time every year. Employers may grant collective vacations to employees under certain circumstances. If an employee's vacation is interrupted for reasons beyond their control, they are entitled to resume their leave once those circumstances have ended.

Venezuela celebrates a variety of national, religious, and historical holidays throughout the year.

National Holidays

Venezuela's national holidays include:

• New Year's Day (Año Nuevo) on January 1
• Carnival (Carnaval) in February or March, with the dates varying each year for this two-day celebration
• Declaration of Independence (Declaración de Independencia) on April 19
• Labor Day (Día del Trabajador) on May 1
• Battle of Carabobo (Batalla de Carabobo) on June 24
• Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) on July 5
• Simón Bolívar's Birthday (Natalicio de Simón Bolívar) on July 24
• Day of Indigenous Resistance (Día de la Resistencia Indígena) on October 12
• Christmas Day (Navidad) on December 25

Religious Holidays

Religious holidays in Venezuela include:

• Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo) in March or April, with the date varying each year
• Good Friday (Viernes Santo) in March or April, with the date varying each year

Regional and Local Holidays

In addition to the national holidays, some regions and cities in Venezuela may observe additional local or regional holidays.

Bank Holidays

Banks in Venezuela observe a longer list of holidays than the general public. It's important to be aware of these bank holidays if you need to conduct banking transactions.

In Venezuela, employees are entitled to various types of leave under the provisions of the Organic Labor Law of Workers and Workresses (Ley Orgánica del Trabajo, los Trabajadores y las Trabajadoras – LOTTT).

Vacation Leave (Annual Leave)

Employees are entitled to 15 working days of paid leave after one year of service, increasing by one day per subsequent year up to a maximum of 30 working days. Additionally, employees receive a vacation bonus equivalent to their regular salary for each day of leave taken.

Maternity Leave

Maternity leave totals 26 weeks - 6 weeks prenatal and 20 weeks postnatal. This leave is partially paid by the Venezuelan Social Security Institute (Instituto Venezolano de los Seguros Sociales – IVSS).

Paternity Leave

Paternity leave is 14 continuous days of paid leave following the birth of a child.

Sick Leave

Employees can take paid sick leave if they have a medical certificate that validates their illness or injury. This leave is paid by the Venezuelan Social Security Institute (IVSS). The exact duration and level of compensation depends on the severity of the illness.

Bereavement Leave

Employees usually receive a short period of paid leave (typically 2-3 days) in the case of the death of an immediate family member.

Other Types of Leave

Depending on circumstances, employees may also be entitled to:

• Marriage Leave: A short period of paid leave in the event of an employee's marriage.
• Study Leave: Leave to pursue education or training (length and payment status vary).
• Military Leave: Paid leave for mandatory military service or training.

The specific terms and conditions of different types of leave in Venezuela can be further influenced by sector-specific regulations, collective bargaining agreements, or individual employment contracts.