Namibia's Labour Act (No. 11 of 2007) sets minimum leave entitlements that every employment contract must meet or exceed. This guide summarises the four statutory leave types — annual, sick, maternity and compassionate leave — and what they mean in practice for employers running payroll and leave records.
Annual leave
Employees are entitled to at least four consecutive weeks of annual leave per annual leave cycle (12 months with the same employer). Expressed in working days, that means:
| Work pattern | Minimum annual leave |
|---|---|
| 5 days per week | 20 working days |
| 6 days per week | 24 working days |
- Leave accrues over the cycle and must be granted no later than four months after the cycle ends
- Employers may not pay employees instead of granting leave, except on termination for accrued untaken leave
Sick leave
Sick leave works on a 36-month cycle. During each cycle, an employee working five days a week is entitled to at least 30 working days of paid sick leave (36 days for a six-day week). In the first year of employment, the entitlement accrues at one day per 26 days worked.
Employers may require a medical certificate for absences of more than two consecutive days. Once paid sick leave is exhausted, extended illness may qualify for the SSC's sick leave benefit.
Maternity leave
- Female employees are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave — normally 4 weeks before the expected date of confinement and 8 weeks after
- The employee must have completed six months of continuous service to qualify
- During maternity leave, the SSC's maternity benefit replaces salary up to the statutory ceiling; the employer must keep the position open
Compassionate leave
Employees are entitled to up to five working days of paid compassionate leave per 12-month period on the death or serious illness of an immediate family member.
Record-keeping
The Act requires employers to keep records of leave taken and accrued. In practice this means tracking each leave type against its own cycle — annual leave per 12-month cycle, sick leave per 36-month cycle — which is where spreadsheet-based tracking usually breaks down first.
Frequently asked questions
How many leave days per year in Namibia?
At least four consecutive weeks per annual leave cycle: 20 working days for a five-day week, 24 for a six-day week — the statutory minimum under the Labour Act, 2007.
How much sick leave do employees get in Namibia?
At least 30 working days (five-day week) or 36 days (six-day week) per 36-month sick leave cycle. In the first 12 months of employment, sick leave accrues at one day per 26 days worked.
How long is maternity leave in Namibia?
12 weeks — typically four weeks before and eight weeks after confinement — for employees with at least six months of continuous service. The SSC maternity benefit provides income during the leave.
Can an employer pay out annual leave instead of granting it?
No, not during employment — the Labour Act requires the leave to be granted. Accrued untaken leave is paid out only on termination.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change — confirm current figures with NamRA, the Social Security Commission or your practitioner before filing.
GamaERP tracks every leave type with automatic accruals per employee — aligned with the Labour Act's cycles out of the box.
See HR & Payroll