BCEA Leave Entitlements

The leave every worker is entitled to under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act -- annual, sick, family responsibility, maternity and parental. The statutory minimums you cannot pay your way out of.

Annual leave

Entitlement	21 consecutive days per 12-month cycle (15 working days on a 5-day week)
Paying it out	Not allowed instead of taking it, except on termination

Sick leave

Entitlement	30 working days in a rolling 36-month cycle (on a 5-day week)
First 6 months	1 day of paid sick leave for every 26 days worked
Medical certificate	You may require one for more than 2 consecutive days, or for a pattern of Monday and Friday absences

Family responsibility leave

Entitlement	3 paid days a year (birth of the worker's child, a sick child under 18, or a death in the close family)
Who qualifies	Workers with more than 4 months' service who work at least 4 days a week; it does not carry over

Maternity and parental leave

Maternity leave	4 consecutive months (the BCEA grants the leave; UIF pays the benefit)
Parental leave	10 consecutive days, also paid through UIF

Reference only -- not legal advice. These are statutory minimums; a contract or bargaining council agreement may give more, never less. Confirm current entitlements at labour.gov.za.

Sources: Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 · Department of Employment and Labour

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