In Romania, employees are entitled to at least 20 working days of paid annual leave per year under the Labour Code (Codul Muncii). This is the minimum statutory entitlement; collective labour agreements may provide for more generous leave.

Statutory entitlement

Minimum 20 working days of paid annual leave per year. Collective labour agreements may provide additional leave.

Eligibility

All employees are entitled to annual leave. Leave is pro-rated in the first year of employment based on months worked.

Employer obligations

  • Grant at least 20 working days of paid annual leave per year.
  • Pay the employee's average salary during annual leave.
  • Allow the employee to take annual leave within the calendar year.
  • Pay for unused annual leave on termination of employment.
  • Not require the employee to waive annual leave.

Employee rights

  • Right to at least 20 working days of annual leave.
  • Right to be paid at average salary during annual leave.
  • Right to paid leave payout on termination.

Common pitfalls

  • Not checking the collective labour agreement — many agreements provide additional leave beyond the 20-day minimum.
  • Not paying for unused leave on termination — this is a statutory requirement.

How annual leave accrues

Annual leave accrues from the start of employment. In the first year, leave is pro-rated based on months worked. From the second year onwards, the full 20 days are available.

Annual leave pay

Annual leave pay is calculated based on the employee's average salary over the three months preceding the leave.

Additional leave

Collective labour agreements may provide additional leave for certain categories of employees (e.g. hazardous work, night shift, long service).

Frequently asked questions

Can annual leave be carried forward?

Unused annual leave can be carried over to the next year in specific circumstances (e.g. illness). Otherwise, leave must be taken within the calendar year.

Are public holidays included in annual leave?

No. Romania has 15 public holidays, which are separate from annual leave.

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited primary source for current law before making employment decisions.