Paid Time Off (PTO)
Employees receive one day of paid leave for every 18 days of work after a year of service if they work in a commercial establishment, factory, shop or transport.
If they work for a newspaper, they receive one day of vacation for every 11 days worked.
Public Holidays
Afghanistan observes both national and religious holidays. Employees are entitled to paid leave on the following days:
- Friday (the last day of the week)
- Nawruz (the first day of the new year)
- The 28 of Assad/July 19 (the day of restoration and independence)
- The Eighth of Sawr (the Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Afghanistan)
- The first day of Ramadan
- Three days for Eid-e-Feter
- Three days for Eid-e-Said-e-Adah and one day for Arafat
- The 12 of Rabiul Awal (Hazrat-e-Mohammad’s birthday)
- The 10 of Muharam/the Day of Ashura
- The 26 of Dalwe (the return of former Soviet forces)
- Other days the Republic announces as public holidays
Sick Days
Employees are entitled to 20 days of paid sick per year.
If a worker needs to utilize three days or fewer, they may send a written notice. For longer leave, the employee must provide a certificate from the health institute’s medical doctor. In areas without access to physicians, certificates from the village headman or Province are valid.
Employees covered by a medical insurance plan may use the certificate from the doctor at the insurance company.
If a worker needs to use more than 20 days of sick leave, they may use other leave for this purpose. In some cases, employees can receive additional sick leave.
New employees who start work in the first half of the year may use the full 20 days of sick leave. Workers who join in the second half are entitled to 10 days.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to take 90 days of paid maternity leave.
This leave should begin 30 days before delivery and extend 60 days past the date of the birth.
At the end of the maternity leave, the employee must report to work. In the case of abnormal delivery or multiple births, she is entitled to take an extra 15 days of maternity leave.
To qualify for this supplemental leave, she will have to provide relevant certificates from the hospital.
Paternity Leave
There is no statutory paternity leave.