In Albania, the Labor Code provides a guarantee for paid vacation leave, also known as annual leave, for employees who meet certain eligibility requirements.

Entitlement

Under Article 106 of the Labor Code, employees are entitled to a minimum of four calendar weeks of paid annual leave in a year. This translates to a minimum of 20 working days of leave, assuming there are no rest days within these four weeks.

Accrual

The accrual of vacation leave is a gradual process. Employees are not permitted to take all of their leave at the beginning of their employment period.

Eligibility

All employees are entitled to paid annual leave, typically after completing a probationary period or upon reaching a certain duration of service.

Scheduling

The specific timing of annual leave is to be mutually agreed upon by the employer and the employee, as per Article 108 of the Labor Code.

Unused Leave

Employees are required to take their annual leave during the current working year or within the first three months of the subsequent year.

Important Considerations

Sick Leave

For the purpose of calculating annual leave, time spent on sick leave is considered as working time.

Collective Agreements

Collective bargaining agreements may offer more generous vacation leave entitlements than the minimum requirements stipulated in the Labor Code.

Record Keeping

Employers have a responsibility to maintain accurate records of employees' vacation leave accrual and usage.

Albania celebrates a variety of secular, religious, and historical holidays throughout the year.

Secular Holidays

• New Year's Day (January 1st - 2nd): This holiday marks the start of the Gregorian calendar year.
• Summer Day (March 14th): This day is a celebration of the pagan spring festival known as Dita e Verës.
• Labor Day (May 1st): This day is dedicated to honoring the contributions of workers.
• Independence Day (November 28th): This day commemorates Albania's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.
• Liberation Day (November 29th): This day marks the anniversary of Albania's liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944.

Religious Holidays

• Nevruz (March 22nd): This holiday is celebrated by the Bektashi religious order.
• Catholic Easter (March/April): This is an important religious holiday for Catholics. The dates change annually.
• Orthodox Easter (March/April): This is an important religious holiday for Orthodox Christians. The dates change annually.
• Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan): This holiday marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The dates vary based on the lunar calendar.
• Eid al-Adha/Kurban Bajrami (Feast of the Sacrifice): This holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. The dates vary based on the lunar calendar.
• Christmas Day (December 25th): This day celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

In Albania, the Labor Code is the primary law that governs leave entitlements for employees. There are several types of leave available to employees, each with its own set of rules and regulations.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to a minimum of four calendar weeks of paid annual leave in a year. This generally translates to 20 working days if there are no rest days within these four weeks. All employees are entitled to paid annual leave, usually after completing a probationary period or upon reaching a minimum duration of service. Leave accrues throughout the year and cannot be taken in advance. Employers and employees should mutually agree upon vacation timing, taking into consideration the company's operational needs and the employee's preference for rest.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave after completing six months of continuous service. The duration and specific pay rate depends on their length of service. Generally, a medical certificate is required to substantiate sick leave.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 365 days of maternity leave, typically divided into 35 days before and 330 days after childbirth. Women receive maternity pay through the social security system that typically includes a percentage of their wages.

Paternity Leave

Fathers are entitled to 5 days of paid paternity leave following their child's birth. They might also have the option to use a portion of their spouse's maternity leave.

Other Types of Leave

Employees are typically granted a short leave period in the event of the death of a close family member. The Labor Code mentions leave without pay for personal reasons and special cases. In some circumstances, employees may be granted unpaid leave with their employer's agreement.