Serbian labor law provides employees with various types of leave entitlements, ensuring time off for rest, personal events, illness, and family responsibilities. Understanding these provisions is crucial for employers operating in Serbia to ensure compliance and maintain fair labor practices.
Navigating the specifics of annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave requires attention to detail regarding eligibility, duration, and compensation. This guide outlines the key aspects of leave policies in Serbia for 2025, providing a framework for managing employee time off effectively and in accordance with local regulations.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Serbia are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of annual leave per calendar year. This minimum can be increased based on criteria such as years of service, working conditions, qualifications, and contributions to the work process, as defined by the employer's internal regulations or collective agreement.
Annual leave can generally be taken in one continuous period or in parts. If taken in parts, the first part must last at least two consecutive weeks during the calendar year, and the remaining days must be used by June 30th of the following year. Employees who do not work a full calendar year are entitled to a proportionate amount of annual leave.
Public Holidays
Serbia observes several public holidays throughout the year. On these days, employees are generally entitled to paid time off. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to increased compensation.
Here are the public holidays observed in Serbia in 2025:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1-2 | New Year's Day |
| January 7 | Orthodox Christmas |
| February 15-16 | Statehood Day |
| April 18 | Good Friday (Orthodox) |
| April 20 | Easter Sunday (Orthodox) |
| April 21 | Easter Monday (Orthodox) |
| May 1-2 | Labour Day |
| November 11 | Armistice Day in World War I |
Note: Religious holidays are also observed by employees belonging to specific religious communities, in accordance with the law.
Sick Leave
Employees in Serbia are entitled to sick leave due to temporary incapacity for work caused by illness or injury. The procedure requires the employee to obtain a medical certificate from a doctor.
During sick leave, employees are entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation depends on the cause of the incapacity:
- Illness or injury outside work: Compensation is typically 65% of the average salary from the previous 12 months. The employer pays the compensation for the first 30 days of absence. After 30 days, the Health Insurance Fund takes over the payment, usually at 65% or 100% depending on the specific circumstances (e.g., severe illness, occupational injury).
- Occupational injury or illness: Compensation is 100% of the average salary from the previous 12 months, paid by the employer for the duration of the incapacity.
The maximum duration of sick leave is generally limited, but can be extended in specific cases based on medical assessment.
Parental Leave
Serbian law provides comprehensive parental leave entitlements, primarily focusing on maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
Maternity Leave
Maternity leave begins between 28 and 45 days before the expected date of delivery and lasts for 365 days in total, including leave for childcare. For the first child, the mother is entitled to maternity leave and leave for childcare for 365 days. For the second, third, and fourth child, the total duration of maternity leave and leave for childcare is also 365 days, but the calculation of benefits may differ slightly.
Compensation during maternity leave and leave for childcare is calculated based on the average salary from the 18 months preceding the start of the leave and is paid by the state.
Paternity Leave
The father is entitled to paternity leave upon the birth of a child. This leave typically lasts for 7 days and must be taken immediately after the child's birth. Compensation during paternity leave is paid by the employer.
Additionally, the father can take over the remaining portion of the maternity leave and leave for childcare from the mother after the child is three months old, with the mother's consent.
Adoption Leave
Employees who adopt a child are also entitled to leave. The duration and conditions of adoption leave depend on the age of the adopted child, generally mirroring the entitlements for maternity and childcare leave until the child reaches a certain age (e.g., 5 years old). Compensation is paid by the state.
Other Types of Leave
Beyond annual, public, sick, and parental leave, Serbian labor law recognizes several other types of paid and unpaid leave for specific personal circumstances:
- Paid Leave: Employees are entitled to paid leave for specific events, typically up to 5 working days per year. Common reasons include:
- Marriage (5 working days)
- Birth of a child (5 working days for the father)
- Serious illness or death of a close family member (up to 5 working days, depending on the degree of kinship)
- Moving house (2 working days)
- Taking professional or other exams (up to 5 working days)
- Study Leave: Employees pursuing education relevant to their work may be granted paid or unpaid leave for attending classes or taking exams, as agreed with the employer or defined by internal regulations.
- Unpaid Leave: An employer may grant an employee unpaid leave upon their request. During unpaid leave, the employee's rights and obligations arising from employment are suspended, unless otherwise agreed. The duration and conditions are subject to agreement between the employer and employee.
