Labour Rights

All workers have the right to just and favourable conditions of work and to equal pay for equal work.

The ILO Holidays with Pay Convention (Revised), 1970 (No. 132) entitles workers to a right to take three weeks of paid leave each year, although local laws in many countries may provide for a longer period. Employers must not deny their workers this entitlement and risk fines or other penalties for unlawfully withholding annual leave from workers.

For employers, paid annual leave preserves a business’s human capital by providing a period of rest and recovery that enables their workforce to remain healthy. This can, in turn, reduce absenteeism. Annual leave can also enhance the motivation of workers as paid leave is more than just a means to provide rest; it also promotes well-being in general.

Employers should ensure that annual leave is provided in addition to any other forms of leave entitlement prescribed in local laws, such as sick leave, maternity leave or parental leave.