In Nicaragua, the Nicaraguan Labor Code (Código del Trabajo) governs the vacation leave entitlements for employees.

Entitlement

After six months of continuous employment, employees are entitled to 15 days of paid vacation. This entitlement increases to 30 days of paid leave upon completion of one year of continuous employment.

Calculating Additional Leave

After the first year of employment, vacation leave continues to accrue based on the length of service. For every six months of continuous employment with their employer, employees are entitled to an additional 15 days of vacation leave.

Important Considerations

Entitlements are based on continuous employment with the same employer. If the employer and the employee agree, unused vacation time may be carried over. The employer generally determines when the employee can take their vacation, but they should consider the employee's preferences. Employees must receive full pay for their entitled vacation period.

Nicaragua celebrates a variety of public holidays, which include national holidays, religious observances, and significant historical events.

National Holidays

Nicaragua observes several national holidays throughout the year. These include:

• New Year's Day (Año Nuevo) on January 1st
• Labor Day (Día del Trabajo) on May 1st
• Battle of San Jacinto Day (Batalla de San Jacinto) on September 14th
• Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) on September 15th
• Christmas Day (Navidad) on December 25th

Religious Holidays

Religious holidays also play a significant role in Nicaragua's public holiday calendar. These include:

• Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo), which falls on a variable date in March or April
• Good Friday (Viernes Santo), also falling on a variable date in March or April
• The Purisima or Immaculate Conception (La Purísima) on December 8th

Regional Holidays

In addition to national and religious holidays, Nicaragua also celebrates regional holidays. One of these is the Santo Domingo de Guzmán Festivities in Managua, which takes place in early August. This celebration includes two major days – August 1st (La Bajada del Santo) and August 10th (La Subida del Santo).

The Nicaraguan government issues an official calendar annually, specifying the exact dates of public holidays with variable dates. It's also worth noting that some regional holidays may be primarily observed in specific cities or towns.

Employees are entitled to different types of leave, each with its own set of rules and regulations.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave after completing six months of continuous employment. After one year of service, entitlement increases to 30 days. Leave may accrue throughout the year or be granted in a lump sum. Employers and employees should mutually agree on vacation timing.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to sick leave from the fourth consecutive day of an illness or injury. For non-work related illnesses, the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS) pays 60% of wages from day four onward, up to a maximum of 26 weeks. Employees with a work-related illness or injury may be eligible for extended sick leave benefits of up to one year. Employees must provide a medical certificate to substantiate their need for sick leave.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave (4 weeks before the expected due date and 8 weeks after). The Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS) pays 60% of the employee's salary, and the employer is responsible for the remaining 40%.

Paternity Leave

Fathers are entitled to five working days of paid paternity leave following the birth of their child.

Bereavement Leave

While not explicitly defined by law, many companies offer bereavement leave for the death of an employee's close family member.

Study Leave

Some employers may provide study leave or time off for educational purposes.

Unpaid Leave

Employees may generally request periods of unpaid leave, subject to employer approval.