In Slovakia, employees are entitled to at least four weeks (20 working days for a five-day worker) of paid annual leave per year under the Labour Code (Zákonník práce). Employees in certain professions or working in hazardous conditions are entitled to five weeks. Public holidays are separate from annual leave.

Statutory entitlement

4 weeks (20 working days) of annual leave per year. 5 weeks (25 working days) for employees in certain professions or working in hazardous conditions.

Eligibility

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

Employer obligations

  • Grant at least 4 weeks (5 weeks for eligible employees) of paid annual leave per year.
  • Pay the employee's average earnings during annual leave.
  • Allow the employee to take annual leave within the calendar year.
  • Pay for unused annual leave on termination of employment.

Employee rights

  • Right to 4 weeks (or 5 weeks for eligible employees) of annual leave.
  • Right to be paid at average earnings during annual leave.
  • Right to paid leave payout on termination.

Common pitfalls

  • Not checking if the employee qualifies for 5 weeks — certain professions and hazardous work conditions entitle the employee to an extra week.
  • Not paying for unused leave on termination — this is a statutory requirement.

How annual leave is calculated

Annual leave is calculated in weeks. For a five-day worker, 4 weeks equals 20 working days. Leave is pro-rated in the first year.

Annual leave pay

Annual leave pay is calculated based on the employee's average earnings. This includes all regular wages, allowances, and bonuses.

Frequently asked questions

Which professions qualify for 5 weeks of leave?

Education, health, and social service workers, as well as employees working in hazardous conditions, are entitled to 5 weeks of annual leave.

Can annual leave be carried forward?

Unused annual leave can be carried over to the next year in specific circumstances (e.g. illness).

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.