In Luxembourg, the Labour Code provides a generous vacation leave system for employees. Full-time employees are legally entitled to a minimum of 26 working days of annual leave per year. The vacation leave for part-time employees is calculated proportionally based on the number of hours they work. The accrual of vacation entitlement is approximately 2.17 days per month of employment.

Additional Vacation Leave

Certain groups of employees receive increased vacation entitlements beyond the standard 26 days. Disabled employees, for example, are granted additional days based on the degree of their disability. Mining and underground workers also receive additional leave due to the hazardous nature of their work. Employees undergoing medical treatment may be granted additional days depending on the nature of the treatment. Certain employment sectors or collective agreements may also grant extra vacation days.

Scheduling and Important Considerations

The scheduling of vacation is determined by both employers and employees, taking into account business needs and employee preferences. Public holidays that fall within an employee's vacation period do not reduce their vacation balance. Vacation leave begins to accrue from the employee's start date. Employees are expected to take their vacation within the calendar year, but under specific circumstances, the employer may allow carry-over to the following year until March 31st. The Luxembourg Labour Code is the primary legal framework governing vacation entitlements.

Luxembourg observes a variety of religious, national, and traditional holidays throughout the year.

National Holidays

• New Year's Day (January 1st): This day marks the beginning of the calendar year.
• Luxembourg National Day (Grand Duke's Official Birthday) (June 23rd): This day celebrates the official birthday of the reigning sovereign.
• Assumption Day (August 15th): This is a Catholic holiday commemorating the Virgin Mary's ascent into heaven.
• All Saints' Day (November 1st): This is a Catholic observance dedicated to honoring all saints and the deceased.
• Christmas Day (December 25th): This day celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Second Day of Christmas - St. Stephen's Day (December 26th): This day continues the Christmas celebrations.

Traditional and Religious Holidays

• Labor Day/May Day (May 1st): This day honors workers' contributions and labor movements.
• Easter Monday (Variable Date): This is a religious holiday following Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Ascension Day (Variable Date): Celebrated 40 days after Easter, this day marks the ascension of Jesus into heaven (Christian observance).
• Whit Monday (Variable Date): Also known as Pentecost Monday, it occurs 50 days after Easter (Christian observance).
• Europe Day (May 9th): This day celebrates peace and unity across Europe.

Other Notable Days

• Shrove Monday (Variable Date): This is a traditional celebration before the start of Lent.
• Bretzelsonndeg (Pretzel Sunday) (Variable Date): This is a unique Luxembourgish tradition occurring on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

In Luxembourg, employees are legally entitled to a minimum of 26 working days of paid leave per year, accruing at a rate of 2.167 days for each full month of employment. Additional leave may be provided by collective agreements or individual employment contracts. Special categories of workers such as disabled persons, war veterans, and miners may be entitled to extra days of annual leave as per applicable laws.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to an unlimited number of paid sick leave days, provided they have a legitimate medical certificate. They are required to notify their employer of their illness on the first day of absence and must submit a medical certificate on the third day of absence. The employer is responsible for paying the employee's full salary for the first 77 days of a continuous illness period. After the initial 77 days, the National Health Fund (Caisse Nationale de Santé or CNS) covers the employee's salary payments.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave (8 weeks pre-birth and 8 weeks post-birth). In case of multiple births or premature births, additional weeks may be granted. Maternity pay is equivalent to full salary. Fathers are entitled to 10 consecutive days of paternity leave, taken within two months of the child's birth or adoption (for adoptions of children under age 16). Paternity leave is paid in full by the employer.

Special Leave for Personal Reasons (Congé Extraordinaire)

Employees are entitled to paid leave for specific personal events. Leave duration varies depending on the situation as defined by the Labour Code. This includes leave for marriage, civil partnership, moving, birth of a child, adoption, death of a spouse or relative, and other situations that may be covered by collective agreements, internal regulations, or individual employment contracts.

Other Types of Leave

Other types of leave include force majeure leave, caregiver leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, military leave, and voting leave. Force majeure leave and caregiver leave are granted for urgent family reasons related to illness or accident involving a family member, or to provide care to a family member or person living in the same household who requires significant help for a serious medical reason. Additional bereavement leave may be provided by collective agreements or individual employment contracts. Employees are entitled to paid leave for jury service. Employees may have leave entitlements related to military service. Voting is compulsory in Luxembourg, and time must be provided for employees to fulfill this civic duty.

Important Notes

Employees must generally fulfill eligibility requirements and provide necessary documentation to benefit from these leave types. Collective agreements, company regulations, or employment contracts may offer more favorable terms than the legal minimums outlined above.