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Tunisia

Vacation and Leave Policies

Understand the regulations on vacation and other types of leave in Tunisia

Holiday leave

In Tunisia, the provision of paid vacation leave for employees is determined by their age. Those who are under 18 years old or over 50 years old are entitled to 18 working days of paid leave annually. Meanwhile, employees who fall within the age bracket of 18 to 50 years old are given 12 working days of paid leave each year.

Continuous Service

The allocation of vacation leave is contingent on continuous employment under the same employer.

Unused Leave

There is a provision for employees to carry over a portion of their unused leave to the succeeding year. However, this is subject to the agreement of the employer.

Scheduling

The scheduling of vacation leaves is typically a collaborative decision between employers and employees, adhering to the guidelines set by the Labor Code.

Public holidays

In Tunisia, public holidays are a blend of national and religious observances.

National Holidays

The national holidays in Tunisia include:

  • New Year's Day on January 1st
  • Revolution and Youth Day on January 14th, which marks the Tunisian Revolution of 2011
  • Independence Day on March 20th
  • Martyrs' Day on April 9th
  • Labor Day on May 1st
  • Republic Day on July 25th
  • Women's Day on August 13th
  • Evacuation Day on October 15th, which commemorates the withdrawal of the last French troops

Religious Holidays

As a majority Muslim nation, Tunisia also observes Islamic holidays that follow the lunar calendar:

  • Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting
  • Eid al-Adha, also known as the "Feast of Sacrifice", a significant Islamic holiday
  • Ras as-Sana al-Hijria, the Islamic New Year
  • Moulid an-Nabi, which celebrates the Prophet Muhammad's birthday

Types of leave

In Tunisia, employees are entitled to various types of leave. These include annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, and other notable leave types such as bereavement leave and pilgrimage leave.

Annual Leave (Vacation Leave)

Employees are entitled to paid annual leave with the length based on their age: those under 18 or over 50 years of age get 18 working days, while those between 18 and 50 get 12 working days.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave after completing a probationary period with their employer (duration varies). Sick leave requires a medical certificate and the specific length depends on seniority.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 30 days of paid maternity leave.

Paternity Leave

Male employees are entitled to 2 days of paid paternity leave following the birth of their child.

Other Notable Leave Types

Bereavement Leave

Employees may be entitled to a short period of paid leave following the death of an immediate family member.

Pilgrimage Leave (Hajj Leave)

This type of leave may be granted for Muslim employees to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

Important Considerations

Employers may offer more generous leave provisions than the legal minimums. Certain sectors may have additional leave provisions negotiated within collective agreements.

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