In South Sudan, the Labor Act of 2017 provides the guidelines for vacation leave for employees.

Entitlement

Every employee has the right to paid annual leave for each year of service with their employer. The specific duration of leave varies depending on the length of continuous service:

• Employees with one to three years of continuous service are entitled to 21 days of leave.
• Employees with three to fifteen years of continuous service are entitled to 25 days of leave.
• Employees with fifteen or more years of continuous service are entitled to 30 days of leave.

Important Considerations

The accumulation of leave days is dependent on uninterrupted employment with the same employer. Accumulated leave can be carried over to the following year. Employers also have the option to pay out a portion of unused leave with the agreement of the employee, as per Article 36 of the Labor Act, 2017.

If employment is terminated, employees are entitled to compensation for any unused accumulated leave, as stated in Article 38 of the Labor Act, 2017.

South Sudan celebrates a mix of national holidays, religious holidays, and socially significant days.

National Holidays

South Sudan's national holidays include:

• New Year's Day on January 1st
• SPLA Day on May 16th, which commemorates the founding of the Sudan People's Liberation Army
• Martyrs' Day on July 30th, which honors those who died in the struggle for South Sudan's independence
• Independence Day on July 9th, marking South Sudan's independence from Sudan in 2011
• Peace Agreement Day on August 5th, celebrating the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan
• Christmas Day on December 25th

Religious Holidays

Religious holidays observed in South Sudan include:

• Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The date varies according to the Islamic calendar.
• Eid al-Adha, the "Feast of Sacrifice," a significant Islamic holiday. The date varies according to the Islamic calendar.
• Easter Holidays, including Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. The dates vary according to the Christian calendar.

Variable Dates

It's important to note that the dates for Muslim holidays (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) are determined by the Islamic lunar calendar and therefore change annually.

In South Sudan, the Labor Act, 2017 is the primary legislation governing leave entitlements. This includes various types of leave such as annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, bereavement leave, unpaid leave, and study leave.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to paid annual leave for each year of continuous service with their employer. The specific amounts are:

• 21 days for employees with one to three years of service.
• 25 days for employees with three to fifteen years of service.
• 30 days for employees with fifteen or more years of service.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to sick leave. The initial period is often unpaid, but extended sick leave may be paid depending on company policies and the length of illness. To qualify, employees usually need to provide medical certification.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 90 days of fully paid maternity leave.

Paternity Leave

Male employees are entitled to 2 weeks of paternity leave on full pay.

Bereavement Leave

Employees are typically entitled to a few days of paid leave in the event of a death in their immediate family. The specific duration may vary based on company policies.

Other Notable Leave Types

• Unpaid Leave: Employees may be able to take unpaid leave for personal reasons with the employer's agreement.
• Study Leave: May be granted for employees to pursue educational goals.

Employers often have more detailed leave policies outlined in their employee handbooks or contracts. The Labor Act, 2017 establishes minimum entitlements, but companies can offer more generous leave provisions.