Managing employee leave entitlements in Bangladesh requires a clear understanding of the country's labor laws and regulations. These policies are designed to ensure employee well-being and provide necessary time off for rest, illness, family responsibilities, and national observances. Compliance with these regulations is crucial for businesses operating in Bangladesh to maintain fair labor practices and avoid potential legal issues.
Bangladesh labor law outlines specific minimum requirements for various types of leave, including annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave. While the law sets the baseline, employers may choose to offer more generous leave benefits as part of their employee compensation package. Understanding these statutory minimums is the first step in developing compliant and competitive leave policies for your workforce in Bangladesh.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Bangladesh are entitled to annual leave after a certain period of service. The specific entitlement varies depending on the nature of the establishment where the employee works.
- Factory Workers: Entitled to one day of annual leave for every eighteen days of work performed during the previous twelve months. For young persons (under 18), it is one day for every fifteen days of work.
- Shop, Commercial, and Industrial Establishment Workers (excluding factories): Entitled to one day of annual leave for every eighteen days of work performed during the previous twelve months.
- Tea Plantation Workers: Entitled to one day of annual leave for every twenty-two days of work performed during the previous twelve months. For young persons, it is one day for every eighteen days of work.
- Newspaper Workers: Entitled to one day of annual leave for every eleven days of work performed during the previous twelve months.
Leave can be accumulated up to a certain limit, typically not exceeding the amount of leave earned in the preceding twelve months. Employees are generally paid their average daily wage for the period of their annual leave.
Public Holidays
Bangladesh observes a number of public holidays throughout the year. Employees are typically entitled to paid leave on these days. The exact dates for some holidays, particularly religious ones, may vary slightly each year based on moon sightings. For 2025, the expected public holidays include:
| Holiday | Expected Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| Shaheed Day (International Mother Language Day) | February 21 |
| Birthday of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman & National Children's Day | March 17 |
| Independence Day | March 26 |
| Eid-ul-Fitr (approx.) | March 31 - April 2 |
| Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh) | April 14 |
| May Day | May 1 |
| Buddha Purnima | May 12 |
| Eid-ul-Adha (approx.) | June 6 - 8 |
| Ashura | July 5 |
| National Mourning Day | August 15 |
| Janmashtami | August 25 |
| Eid-e-Miladunnabi (approx.) | September 5 |
| Durga Puja (Bijoya Dashami) | October 2 |
| Victory Day | December 16 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
Note: Dates for religious holidays are approximate and subject to the sighting of the moon.
In addition to these public holidays, employees are also entitled to paid weekly holidays, typically one or two days per week depending on the establishment's rules.
Sick Leave
Employees in Bangladesh are entitled to sick leave with pay. The entitlement varies based on the type of establishment.
- Factory Workers: Entitled to 14 days of sick leave with full pay per year.
- Shop, Commercial, and Industrial Establishment Workers (excluding factories): Entitled to 14 days of sick leave with full pay per year.
- Tea Plantation Workers: Entitled to 14 days of sick leave with full pay per year.
- Newspaper Workers: Entitled to 14 days of sick leave with full pay per year.
Sick leave is typically granted upon submission of a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Unused sick leave generally does not accumulate year to year.
Parental Leave
Parental leave provisions primarily focus on maternity leave in Bangladesh.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.
- Entitlement: 16 weeks (112 days) of maternity leave.
- Timing: This leave can be taken partly before and partly after childbirth.
- Eligibility: An employee must have been employed by the employer for a period of not less than six months immediately preceding the date of delivery to be eligible for maternity benefits.
- Pay: Employees are entitled to receive maternity benefits at the rate of their average daily wage.
Paternity Leave
There is no statutory entitlement to paternity leave under the main labor law in Bangladesh. Some employers may offer paternity leave as a company benefit, but it is not legally mandated.
Adoption Leave
Bangladesh labor law does not currently include specific provisions for adoption leave.
Other Leave Types
While annual, public, sick, and maternity leave are the primary statutory entitlements, other types of leave may be granted based on company policy or specific circumstances, although they are not universally mandated by law:
- Casual Leave: Often granted for unforeseen urgent personal matters. While not explicitly defined in the main labor law for all sectors, it is common practice and sometimes covered under specific rules or standing orders.
- Bereavement Leave: Leave granted upon the death of a close family member. This is typically based on company policy rather than statutory requirement.
- Study Leave: Leave granted to employees for pursuing further education or training. This is usually at the discretion of the employer and may be paid or unpaid.
- Sabbatical Leave: Extended leave granted to employees after a long period of service, often for personal development or rest. This is entirely based on company policy.
Employers should clearly define policies for these and any other types of leave offered in their employee handbooks or contracts to ensure transparency and consistency.
