In Singapore, the Employment Act sets the statutory minimum annual leave entitlement, which starts at seven days after one year of service and increases by one day for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 14 days. The Act covers most employees; common-law contracts and industry practice frequently provide more, with 14–21 days being typical in office-based roles.

Statutory entitlement

7 days after the first year of service, rising by one day per additional year to a maximum of 14 days. Pro-rated if service is less than 12 months.

Eligibility

Employees covered by the Employment Act with at least three months of continuous service. Both rank-and-file and managerial/executive employees are now covered.

Employer obligations

  • Provide at least the statutory minimum annual leave once the employee has completed three months of service.
  • Pay annual leave at the gross rate of pay (basic pay plus fixed allowances).
  • Allow leave to be taken; unused leave that cannot be carried over may be encashed by mutual agreement.
  • Pay accrued, unused leave on termination of employment.
  • Keep accurate leave records as required by the Employment Act.

Employee rights

  • Right to apply for and use accrued annual leave subject to operational requirements.
  • Right to be paid at gross rate of pay during leave.
  • Right to encashment or carry-over of unused leave per company policy or agreement.
  • Right to receive payment for accrued, unused leave on termination.

Common pitfalls

  • Treating the seven-day minimum as the typical entitlement — most professional roles in Singapore offer 14–21 days through contract.
  • Failing to apply the one-day-per-year increment up to the 14-day statutory cap.
  • Forgetting that managerial and executive employees were brought under the Employment Act in 2019 (with some carve-outs).
  • Not pro-rating leave for employees with less than 12 months of service.

How the seven-to-fourteen scale works

Under section 43, an employee gets seven days of annual leave in the first year, eight days in the second, and so on, capped at 14 days from the eighth year onward. Many employers exceed this by contract, especially in finance, technology, and professional services.

Three-month service rule

Annual leave is earned from day one but accrual is pro-rated and only payable once the employee has at least three months of continuous service. Below three months, the employee is not entitled to apply for paid leave under the statute.

Pay during leave

Annual leave is paid at the gross rate of pay, which the Ministry of Manpower defines as basic pay plus all allowances payable under the employment contract. Variable elements such as performance bonuses are excluded.

Frequently asked questions

How many days of annual leave do Singapore employees get?

The Employment Act sets a statutory minimum of seven days after one year of service, rising by one day per year to 14 days. Most professional employers offer 14–21 days through contract.

Do I get annual leave in my first year in Singapore?

Annual leave accrues from day one but is only payable from three months of service. The first year's pro-rated entitlement is calculated based on completed months of service.

Can my employer make me forfeit unused leave in Singapore?

Leave that cannot be taken within the leave year may be carried over or encashed under company policy. On termination, accrued and unused leave must be paid out.

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.