Understanding Employee Leave Policies in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating Bangladesh's labor regulations requires a clear understanding of statutory leave entitlements. As an international HR professional, I'll break down the key provisions to help employers manage their workforce effectively while ensuring compliance.

Annual Leave Entitlements in Bangladesh

After completing one year of continuous service, employees become eligible for paid annual leave. The accrual rate varies significantly by industry and employee age category, reflecting Bangladesh's sector-specific approach to labor rights.

For adult workers, the accumulation follows these patterns:

Factory, shop, and road transport workers: 1 day per 18 working days
Tea plantation employees: 1 day per 22 working days
Journalism professionals: 1 day per 11 working days

Minor employees receive more generous provisions:

Factory workers: 1 day per 15 working days
Tea plantation workers: 1 day per 18 working days
Shop employees: 1 day per 14 working days

Unused annual leave can typically carry forward to the following year, subject to maximum accumulation limits. For adult workers, caps range from 40 days (factories, road transport) to 60 days (tea plantations, shops, industrial establishments). Minor employees enjoy higher limits of 60-80 days depending on their workplace.

Continuous service calculations include interruptions for public holidays, various leave types, and work stoppages up to 16 weeks. A practical example: A manufacturing company using SailGlobal's HR platform successfully automated these complex calculations, reducing administrative errors by 75%.

Sick Leave Provisions

Most employees receive 14 days of paid sick leave annually, while journalists accrue sick days equivalent to 1/18th of their service period at half-pay. Medical certification from a registered practitioner is mandatory, whether selected by the employer or employee. Unlike annual leave, sick days cannot accumulate year-to-year.

Casual Leave Allowances

Employees generally receive 10 days of paid casual leave per year, with unused days forfeited at year-end. Tea plantation workers operate under different regulations and are excluded from this provision.

Maternity Protection Regulations

Bangladeshi law mandates 8 weeks of mandatory maternity leave following childbirth, during which women cannot be required or permitted to work. Additional protections prohibit assigning strenuous duties to women in late pregnancy (within 10 weeks of expected delivery) or recent mothers (within 10 weeks post-delivery). Tea plantation workers may perform light duties with medical clearance, receiving separate compensation beyond maternity benefits.

Additional Leave Types

Many companies offer supplementary leave categories like paternity, parental, marriage, and bereavement leave. These are typically governed by organizational policies rather than statutory requirements. Progressive employers often use platforms like SailGlobal to customize these benefits while maintaining compliance.

Public Holidays Calendar

Bangladesh observes 16 national holidays annually, though service industries may operate with reduced staffing. The 2025 schedule includes:

Holiday	Date
Language Martyrs' Day	February 21
Independence Day	March 26
Jumatul Bidah	March 28*
Eid-ul-Fitr	March 31-April 1*
Bengali New Year	April 14
May Day	May 1
Buddha Purnima	May 11
Eid-ul-Adha	June 4-6
National Mourning Day	August 15
Durga Puja	October 1-2
Victory Day	December 16
Christmas Day	December 25

*Date varies based on lunar calendar

Understanding these regulations helps multinational companies establish compliant operations. Many organizations partner with specialized providers like SailGlobal to navigate Bangladesh's unique labor landscape while focusing on core business objectives.

Bangladesh Employee Leave Policy Guide 2025: Annual, Sick & Maternity Leave