Time off around the world

 How does South Africa stack up when it comes to days off work for public holidays and leave, as compared to a handful of other countries around the world? Here’s how we rank in 2019*. 

(* = figures do not include weekends, sick leave or maternity leave)

 Andorra

• Public Holidays: 14*
• Paid Leave: 31*

Burkina Faso

• Public Holidays: 15*
• Paid Leave: 30*

Bahrain

• Public Holidays: 14*
• Paid Leave: 30*

Sri Lanka

• Public Holidays: 20*
• Paid Leave: 20*

Denmark

• Public Holidays: 11*
• Paid Leave: 25*

Zimbabwe

• Public Holidays: 11*
• Paid Leave: 22*

New Zealand

• Public Holidays: 11*
• Paid Leave: 20*

Mauritius

• Public Holidays: 16*
• Paid Leave: 22* 

Australia

• Public Holidays: 10-13 depending on state / territory*
• Paid Leave: 20*

Botswana

• Public Holidays: 14*
• Paid Leave: 15*

United Kingdom

• Public Holidays: 8*
• Paid Leave: 20* 

South Africa

• Public Holidays: 12*
• Paid Leave: 15* 

Kenya

• Public Holidays: 10*
• Paid Leave: 21*

Mozambique

• Public Holidays: 9*
• Paid Leave: 10* 

China

• Public Holidays: 11*
• Paid Leave: 5 to 15 depending on the number of years worked* (though most take a fraction of this time off)

United States

(America’s “Fair Labor Standards Act” does not legally require employers to pay for  vacation, leave, sick leave or public holidays)

• Public Holidays: 0*
• Paid Leave: 0*

. . .  

Want to make the most of your time off in 2019?

Feel like you’ve tripled your leave time by taking strategic days off between the public holidays and weekends — that is, if you’re working an office job. By booking off these 14 days leave, you’ll actually squeeze out 42 days for travel or a staycation at home!

 
Best days to book off work in 2019:

Holiday: Human Rights Day (Thurs 21 March)
Day(s) to take off: Fri 22 March
Total time off: 4 days

Holiday: Easter (19 to 22 April)
Day(s) to take off: Thurs 18 April + Tues 23 April
Total time off: 6 days

Holiday: Workers’ Day (Wed 1 May)
Day(s) to take off: Thurs 2 May + Fri 3 May
Total time off: 5 days 

Holiday: Youth Day (Mon 17 June)
Day(s) to take off: Thurs 13 June + Fri 14 June
Total time off: 5 days 

Holiday: Women’s Day (Fri 9 August)
Day(s) to take off: Mon 12 March
Total time off: 4 days 

Holiday: Heritage Day (Tues 23 September)
Day(s) to take off: Mon 22  September
Total time off: 4 days 

Holiday: Day of Reconciliation (Mon 16 December)
Day(s) to take off: Tues 17 December + Wed 18 December
Total time off: 5 days

Holiday: Christmas (25 to 26 December)
Day(s) to take off: Mon 23 December, Tues 24 December + Fri 27 December
Total time off: 9 days

. . .

SOURCES: South African Department of Labour, US Department of Labour, mywage.com, CNN, Wikipedia, Shanghai Daily, The South African.