Additional leave compliance rules and complexities

Working patterns

The Venezuelan working week must, by law, contain 2 consecutive rest days, one of which must be a Sunday. Though if an employee’s work is in the “Public interest”, then these 2 rest days can be on any 2 consecutive days of the week. Also, if an employee’s working on a shift pattern, then their rest day does not have to fall on a Sunday. If an employee working shift is only able to take one rest day in a week, then they must be given time off in lieu to make up for the missing rest day.

Annual leave

Employees get 15 days’ paid leave a year, and their annual allowance increases by 1 day a year for every year they spend in a role, up to a total of 30 days paid annual leave a year.

Sick leave

Venezuelan employees can take up to 1 year of sick leave, but the employer is only responsible to pay the employee for the first 3 days of this sick leave. After this period, the government takes over the payment of sick pay.

Maternity and paternity leave

Social security also covers maternity pay at 66.6% of the mother’s usual salary for up to 26 weeks. Fathers can take up to 14 days’ paternity leave, and parents can take shared parental leave for one day a month until the child turns 1.