Kyrgyzstan's labor laws establish minimum standards for various types of leave to protect employees' well-being and work-life balance. Understanding these regulations is crucial for employers to ensure compliance and maintain positive employee relations. The country provides for annual vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and several types of parental leave, along with other forms of leave for specific circumstances.
Navigating these requirements can be complex, especially for international companies. This guide provides a detailed overview of vacation and leave policies in Kyrgyzstan as of 2025.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Kyrgyzstan are legally entitled to paid annual vacation leave. The minimum duration is 28 calendar days. Collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts may provide for longer vacation periods.
- Minimum Entitlement: 28 calendar days
- Eligibility: All employees are eligible from their first day of employment.
- Scheduling: The timing of vacation leave is typically agreed upon between the employer and employee, taking into account the needs of the business. A vacation schedule should be established.
- Compensation: Employees must receive their average salary for the vacation period no later than three days before the start of their leave.
- Carryover: Unused vacation days may be carried over to the following year, but accumulation beyond two years is generally not permitted.
- Termination: Upon termination of employment, employees are entitled to compensation for any unused vacation days.
Public Holidays
Kyrgyzstan observes several public holidays each year. Employees are generally entitled to paid time off on these days. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, it is typically observed on the following working day.
| Holiday Name | Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1-2 |
| Orthodox Christmas | January 7 |
| International Women's Day | March 8 |
| Nooruz Holiday | March 21 |
| Victory Day | May 9 |
| Orozo Ait (Eid al-Fitr) | May 2-4 (est.) |
| Kurman Ait (Eid al-Adha) | July 9-11 (est.) |
| Independence Day | August 31 |
| Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution | November 7 |
| Days of History and Commemoration of Ancestors | November 8 |
Note: Dates for Islamic holidays (Orozo Ait and Kurman Ait) are based on the lunar calendar and may vary. The exact dates are usually announced closer to the actual holiday.
Sick Leave
Employees in Kyrgyzstan are entitled to sick leave if they are unable to work due to illness or injury.
- Eligibility: All employees are eligible for sick leave from their first day of employment.
- Duration: The duration of sick leave is determined by a medical certificate issued by a healthcare provider.
- Compensation: Sick leave is typically paid by the Social Fund, based on the employee's contributions and length of service. The amount of compensation varies but is usually a percentage of the employee's average earnings.
- Documentation: Employees must provide a valid medical certificate to their employer to be eligible for sick leave pay.
Parental Leave
Kyrgyzstan provides several types of parental leave to support employees with family responsibilities.
Maternity Leave
- Duration: A pregnant employee is entitled to 70 calendar days of prenatal leave and 56 calendar days of postnatal leave (70 days in the case of a complicated birth or the birth of two or more children).
- Eligibility: All female employees are eligible.
- Compensation: Maternity leave is paid by the Social Fund and is based on the employee's average earnings.
- Additional Leave: After maternity leave, a parent (mother or father) can take childcare leave until the child reaches the age of three. This leave may be taken in full or in parts. While on childcare leave, the employee receives a small monthly allowance from the Social Fund.
Paternity Leave
- Kyrgyzstan does not have a statutory paternity leave immediately following the birth of a child. However, the father is eligible to take childcare leave (mentioned above) until the child reaches the age of three.
Adoption Leave
- Employees who adopt a child are entitled to leave similar to maternity leave, starting from the date of adoption. The duration and compensation are generally the same as for maternity leave.
Other Types of Leave
In addition to the above, Kyrgyz law and/or employer policies may provide for other types of leave:
- Bereavement Leave: Leave granted to an employee in the event of the death of a close family member. The duration and pay may vary.
- Study Leave: Leave granted to employees pursuing education or training. This may be paid or unpaid, depending on the agreement between the employer and employee.
- Sabbatical Leave: Some employers may offer sabbatical leave for professional development or personal reasons. The terms of sabbatical leave are typically determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Marriage Leave: Employees are often granted a short period of leave for their marriage.
- Leave for caring for a sick family member: Employees may be entitled to a short period of leave to care for a sick family member.
