Understand the regulations on vacation and other types of leave in Ukraine
In Ukraine, the law stipulates that employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 calendar days of paid vacation leave per year. However, this entitlement extends to longer periods for certain categories of workers. These include employees under 18 years of age, those engaged in hazardous or difficult work, and employees with disabilities.
The entitlement to vacation leave is contingent on uninterrupted employment with the same employer. If there are unused leave days, employees generally have the option to carry them over to the subsequent year or receive financial compensation for them. The scheduling of vacation leave is often a mutual decision between employers and employees, with the understanding that employers need to grant leave with advance notice.
In Ukraine, there are several public holidays that are celebrated throughout the year. These holidays are divided into national and religious holidays.
Ukraine celebrates the following national holidays:
In addition to national holidays, Ukraine also observes a number of religious holidays. The country celebrates both Orthodox Christian and Catholic holidays, with dates based on the respective religious calendars. These include:
In Ukraine, employees are entitled to various types of leave.
Employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 calendar days of paid annual leave per year. Those under 18 or over 50 years old get 31 days, and employees with disabilities can receive up to 30 days depending on their specific classification.
Employees are entitled to paid sick leave after completing a probationary period with their employer. The duration varies and sick leave requires a medical certificate. The specific length depends on seniority.
Female employees are entitled to 126 calendar days of paid maternity leave, before and after childbirth.
One parent (mother or father) can take parental leave to care for a child up to the age of three years. This leave can be partially paid (up to 100% of the average salary for the previous six months) or unpaid.
Employees may be entitled to a short period of paid leave following the death of an immediate family member.
Leave provisions may be negotiated within collective agreements for unionized employees.
Employers may offer more generous leave provisions than the legal minimums outlined in the Labor Code. These would be specified in employment contracts or employee handbooks.
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