Guide

BCEA Leave Guide — South Africa 2025

Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (as amended)

Annual Leave

15 days

per 12-month cycle

Sick Leave

30 days

per 3-year cycle

Maternity Leave

4 months

unpaid (UIF applies)

Family Responsibility

3 days

per year

Annual Leave

Minimum 15 working days per 12-month cycle.
Leave accrues at 1.25 working days per month.
Leave pay = daily rate (monthly salary ÷ 21.67) × days taken.
Leave must be taken within 6 months of the end of the leave cycle.
Accrued leave must be paid out on termination.
Annual leave may not be replaced by payment in lieu (except on termination).

Sick Leave

During a 3-year cycle: 30 working days paid sick leave.
In the first 6 months: 1 day sick leave per 26 days worked.
Employer may require a medical certificate for absences of more than 2 consecutive days, or for 2 or more occasions of sick leave in an 8-week period.
Sick leave does not carry over or get paid out on termination.

Maternity Leave

4 consecutive months of maternity leave (unpaid under BCEA, but UIF maternity benefit applies).
May begin up to 4 weeks before the expected date of birth.
Must not return to work within 6 weeks of giving birth unless a doctor confirms she is fit to do so.
The employer cannot give notice of termination during maternity leave.

Parental Leave

The other parent is entitled to 10 consecutive days parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child.
Parental leave is unpaid under the BCEA, but UIF parental leave benefits apply.

Family Responsibility Leave

3 days per year for employees who have worked for more than 4 months and work more than 4 days per week.
Applicable when: a child under 18 is ill; death of a spouse, life partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling.
An employer may require proof of the event.

Public Holidays

Employees may not be required to work on a public holiday unless by agreement.
If an employee works, they must receive at least double their ordinary daily rate.
South Africa has 12 public holidays per year.

Annual Leave Calculator

Sick Leave Calculator

Maternity Leave Calculator

How Many Leave Days?

How to Calculate Overtime

People Also Ask

Can an employer offer less leave than the BCEA minimums?

No — any contract term giving less than the BCEA minimum is void. The BCEA minimum applies automatically regardless of what the contract says.

Do all these leave types apply to part-time employees?

Yes, proportionally — part-time employees accrue leave based on hours worked relative to a full-time employee in the same role.

Which leave types are paid by the employer vs UIF?

Annual and sick leave are paid directly by the employer. Maternity, parental and adoption leave are unpaid by the employer, with income replaced (partially) via UIF benefits.

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