In Sudan, the primary legislation governing leave entitlements is the 2008 Labor Act, which was recently amended in 2022.

Entitlement

Employees are generally entitled to paid annual leave for each year of service with their employer. The specific leave amounts are as follows:

• Employees with one to three years of continuous service are entitled to 20 days of leave.
• Employees with three to fifteen years of continuous service are entitled to 25 days of leave.
• Employees with fifteen or more years of continuous service are entitled to 30 days of leave.

Important Considerations

Leave entitlement is dependent on continuous employment with the same employer. Employees can carry over unused leave to the following year. However, employers may also choose to compensate employees financially for a portion of unused leave after two years of accumulation, as per Article 48 of the Labor Act 2008.

When employment is terminated, employees are compensated for any unused leave that has accrued, according to Article 50 of the Labor Act 2008.

In Sudan, public holidays are a mix of national and religious observances.

National Holidays

• Independence Day: Celebrated on January 1st, this day marks Sudan's independence.
• Revolution Day: This holiday on December 19th commemorates the beginning of the 2018-2019 Sudanese Revolution.
• Peace Agreement Day: Celebrated on October 3rd, this day marks the Juba Peace Agreement of 2020.
• Christmas Day: Celebrated on December 25th, this day is a common holiday across many nations.

Religious Holidays

• Eid al-Fitr: This holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The date varies according to the Islamic calendar.
• Eid al-Adha: Also known as the "Feast of Sacrifice," this is a significant Islamic holiday. The date varies according to the Islamic calendar.
• Prophet Muhammad's Birthday: This holiday celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. The date varies according to the Islamic calendar.
• Coptic Christmas: Celebrated on January 7th, this day is observed by Coptic Christians.

Variable Dates

It's important to note that the dates for Islamic holidays are determined by the Islamic lunar calendar and therefore change each year.

In Sudan, employees are entitled to various types of leave based on their length of service, health, and personal circumstances.

Annual Leave (Vacation Leave)

Employees are entitled to paid annual leave based on their length of service:

• 20 days for employees with one to three years of service
• 25 days for employees with three to fifteen years of service
• 30 days for employees with fifteen or more years of service

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave upon providing medical certification. The length of paid sick leave is as follows:

• Full pay for the first 3 months
• 50% pay for the subsequent 3 months
• 25% pay for the third 3 months
• Unpaid for additional periods of illness

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 12 weeks (approximately 84 days) of fully paid maternity leave.

Other Notable Leave Types

• Pilgrimage Leave (Hajj Leave): Employees may be entitled to unpaid leave with an employer's consent for a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
• Marriage Leave: Employees are often granted a short period of paid leave for their marriage.
• Bereavement Leave: Employees may be entitled to a few days of paid leave upon the death of a close family member.