Sick leave, annual leave and maternity leave in South Africa (BCEA)
5 min read · General information, not legal advice
Quick answer
Under the BCEA, full-time employees get 21 consecutive days' annual leave a year, 30 days' paid sick leave in every 36-month cycle (if they work 5 days a week), 3 days' family responsibility leave a year and 4 consecutive months' maternity leave.
Sick leave
In the first six months of work, an employee earns one day of paid sick leave for every 26 days worked. After that, they get the number of days they would normally work in six weeks, over a 36-month cycle. An employer may ask for a medical certificate if the employee is off for more than two days in a row, or more than twice in eight weeks.
Annual leave
21 consecutive days a year (15 working days for a 5-day week), or by agreement one day for every 17 days worked. It must be granted within six months after the end of the leave cycle.
Maternity and parental leave
Employees get at least four consecutive months of maternity leave. The BCEA doesn't require employers to pay it, but the employee can claim maternity benefits from UIF. Parental leave rules changed after a 2023 court ruling, so check the current position for fathers and adoptive parents.
Family responsibility leave
Three paid days a year for employees who have worked longer than four months and work at least four days a week, for example when a child is born or sick, or a close family member dies.
Free to fill in
Employment Contract (BCEA)
Fill it in online free, preview it as you go, then download Word + PDF from R199.
Frequently asked questions
How many sick days do you get in South Africa?
30 days over a 36-month cycle for someone working five days a week, or 36 days for a six-day week.
Do I need a doctor's note for one day sick?
Usually not, unless it is the third absence in eight weeks. A note is required for more than two consecutive days.
Is maternity leave paid in South Africa?
Not by the employer under the BCEA, unless the contract says so. The employee can claim maternity benefits from UIF.
