In Mauritius, the Workers' Rights Act 2019 stipulates that employees are entitled to 22 days of fully paid annual leave. This is comprised of 20 days of regular annual leave and an additional 2 days. The full annual leave entitlement is available to employees after they have completed 12 months of continuous service with their employer. Annual leave can be taken in full days, half days, or even shorter increments, provided the employer agrees.

Extended Vacation for Long-Tenure Employees

For employees who have been with the same employer for 5 consecutive years, they are entitled to 30 days of paid vacation for every subsequent 5 year period of continuous service. The calculation of this 5-year period started on October 24, 2019, which is when the law was implemented. This rule does not apply to foreign workers in Mauritius.

Additional Leave-Related Provisions

In Mauritius, vacation leave is generally cumulative, which means that unused leave can be carried over. However, there may be limits on the maximum accumulation, which are based on employment contracts or company policies. For employees who have worked less than a full 12-month period, leave entitlements are calculated on a pro-rata basis. Vacation leave can be combined with other forms of leave, such as sick leave or casual leave, if necessary and agreed upon by the employer. In certain circumstances, employees may be entitled to compensation for unused leave upon termination of employment.

Mauritius celebrates a fascinating blend of public holidays that pay homage to its diverse cultural heritage and significant historical events.

Fixed Public Holidays

• New Year's Day: January 1st and 2nd
• Abolition of Slavery Day: February 1st
• Independence and Republic Day: March 12th
• Labour Day: May 1st
• Assumption Day: August 15th
• Arrival of Indentured Labourers: November 2nd
• Christmas Day: December 25th

Floating Public Holidays

The dates for these holidays vary from year to year:

• Thaipoosam Cavadee: Celebrated by the Tamil community, usually in January or February.
• Maha Shivaratree: Celebrated by the Hindu community, typically in February or March.
• Chinese Spring Festival: Celebrated by the Chinese community, typically in January or February.
• Ugaadi: Commemorated by the Telugu community, usually in March.
• Eid-ul-Fitr: Marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The date depends on the sighting of the moon.
• Ganesh Chaturthi: Celebrated by the Hindu community, typically in September.
• Diwali: Celebrated by the Hindu community as the Festival of Lights, usually in October or November.

Important Notes:

• The government of Mauritius releases the official list of national public holidays towards the end of each year for the following year.
• Some dates might be subject to change depending on religious observations and lunar sightings.

In Mauritius, employees are entitled to various types of leave, each with its own set of rules and regulations.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to 20 working days of paid annual leave for every 12 months of continuous service, plus an additional 2 days. This is based on the Workers' Rights Act of 2019, Section 27. Leave accrues throughout the year and must be granted within a 12-month cycle by the employer. Employers and employees should try to agree on how leave is scheduled.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to 21 working days of paid sick leave per year, as per the Workers' Rights Act of 2019, Section 29. Up to 110 days of unused sick leave can be accumulated. A medical certification is required for absences exceeding two consecutive days.

Maternity Leave

Female employees who have been in continuous employment for at least 12 months are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave (6 weeks before, and 8 weeks after childbirth). This is based on the Workers' Rights Act of 2019, Section 33. Maternity leave can be paid or unpaid, depending on the employer's policies or collective bargaining agreements.

Paternity Leave

Male employees are entitled to 5 consecutive working days of unpaid leave upon the birth of their child, as per the Workers' Rights Act of 2019, Section 34.

Bereavement Leave

The specific length of bereavement leave may vary between employers and is often outlined in employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements. While not explicitly stated in the Workers' Rights Act, bereavement leave is a common practice and often included in employment agreements.

Leave for Family Responsibilities

Employees are entitled to up to 5 days of unpaid leave per year to attend to urgent family matters, as per the Workers' Rights Act 2019, Section 32. Eligible matters include caring for a sick family member (child, parent, spouse), attending the funeral of a close family member, and dealing with unforeseen events that directly affect the employee's immediate family.

Special Leave

The Workers' Rights Act 2019 also outlines provisions for special leave, which may encompass court attendance for employees summoned for jury duty or as witnesses, participation in sports/cultural events for representing Mauritius in international events, and other company-specific policies for other special leave categories.

Public holidays are not counted as part of the leave categories mentioned above. Employers may offer more generous leave provisions than the minimums required by law. Refer to your specific employment contract for details.