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Introduction
Azerbaijan, located between Europe and Asia, was the world’s first secular, democratic nation in 1918. While still developing, its advantageous location, good education system, and growing industries make it a great place to hire remote talents.
Oil and gas drive much of Azerbaijan’s economy, making it ideal for energy companies. In recent years, the government has also focused on education, especially in science and technology. As a result, it is becoming the prime spot to hire from a growing pool of talented professionals.
However, to operate smoothly in Azerbaijan, you must comply with the country’s labor laws, which regulate employment contracts, payroll, and taxation. One crucial aspect of these laws is the leave policy, which defines employee entitlements to paid and unpaid leave and other benefits designed to support workers and ensure business continuity.
This blog gives you a clear overview of the leave policy in Azerbaijan, the rights of employees, and the responsibilities of employers.
Earned Leave in Azerbaijan
The Labor Code governs the right to set employee leave guidelines in Azerbaijan. Earned or annual leave is calculated from the employee’s start date and resets annually. An employee qualifies for leave only after at least six months of service. Workers in seasonal jobs receive two days of leave per month, usually taken at the end of the season.
The standard minimum paid leave for employees over 18 is 21 days per year. However, certain professions qualify for a longer leave period of 30 days. They are:
- Agricultural workers
- Government officials in key roles
- Administrative staff and managers
- School personnel (supervisors, trainers, librarians, etc.)
- Scientific researchers
- Healthcare professionals
Apart from this, an employee's paid annual leave count increases based on years of service within the same company. This is termed as the seniority-based leaves:
Employees can split their leave into multiple parts if the employer agrees. However, one part must be at least two weeks long. The remaining leave must be used within the working year or carried forward to the next year if the employee requests it.
If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off moves to the next working day immediately after the holiday. The same rule applies to Eid al-Adha and Ramadan holidays, where the next days are considered holidays if they fall on a non-working day.
Employees can be called back to work from leave only with their consent. If this happens, they can either:
- Receive compensation for unused leave days.
- Take additional unpaid leave later, equal to the missed leave days.
Maternity Leave in Azerbaijan
Pregnant women in Azerbaijan are entitled to 126 days of paid maternity leave, 70 days before birth and 56 days after. If there are complications or multiple births, the post-birth leave increases to 70 days, making a total of 140 days.
Below is a breakdown of maternity leave policy in Azerbaijan:
Maternity leave is fully paid by the State Social Protection Fund. The payment is 100% of the average monthly salary over the past 12 months.
Not only that, the Azerbaijani Labor Code provides job security and benefits for pregnant women and mothers:
- Employers cannot terminate contracts of pregnant women or mothers with children under 3 years old.
- Pregnant women and mothers with babies under 18 months can work 36 hours per week.
- Pregnant women and mothers of children under 3 years old cannot be required to work night shifts.
- Mothers with two children under 16 get two extra vacation days.
- Mothers with three or more children under 16 or a disabled child get five extra vacation days.
Parental Leave in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan provides parental leave benefits to support working parents. These include additional paid and unpaid leave for mothers and single fathers.
The number of additional paid leave a mother gets is:
Unpaid parental leave of 14 days per year is also available for mothers or single fathers with children under 16.
Paternity Leave in Azerbaijan
Fathers in Azerbaijan are entitled to 14 days of unpaid paternity leave after the birth of their child. However, this benefit is mainly available in the public sector and is not widely practiced in private companies.
In most cases, employers pay their fathers during these periods.
Besides this, single fathers and adoptive parents are entitled to 2 extra days of leave each year. The right to extra leave remains valid even if one child turns 14 before the year ends.
Adoption Leave in Azerbaijan
According to the Azerbaijan leave policy, women who adopt a child under two months old are entitled to 56 days of partially paid leave. Social security covers this leave to support new adoptive mothers during the early stages of childcare.
Public Holidays in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan observes 24 public holidays, including 15 national holidays spread over 22 days. Some holidays in Azerbaijan fall on weekends, and extra rest days are given.
The national holidays in Azerbaijan are:
Azerbaijan also observes Islamic holidays, which follow the lunar calendar:
Sick Leave Policy in Azerbaijan
Employees in Azerbaijan can take up to 365 days of sick leave, depending on the illness. The payment depends on the duration of the leave and the employee’s work history.
To be eligible to take sick leaves in Azerbaijan, employees must serve at least six months at a company. A medical certificate is mandated to receive sick pay. The breakdown of payment conditions during sick leaves is below:
Casual Leave in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani labor law does not specifically define casual leave. However, employers may allow short-notice leave as part of the annual leave entitlement.
Unpaid Leave in Azerbaijan
Primarily, the only time unpaid leaves apply according to the Azerbaijan labor law is when the father is taking paternity leave for two weeks. However, in most companies, the employer arranges smaller payouts during those times.
In addition, if an employee uses up all their paid annual leave and needs more days off, they can take unpaid leave.
Other Leaves
Azerbaijan offers different types of leave for specific needs, including social, creative, study, donor, and special occasion leave.
- Partially paid social leave:
Parents or family members caring for a child under three can take partially paid social leave. The employee can take this leave fully or in parts based on a written request. The payment is set by law.
- Creative leave:
Employees working on academic or educational projects can be granted paid creative or sabbatical leave:
- Up to 2 months for a PhD dissertation.
- Up to 3 months for a Doctor of Sciences dissertation.
- 30 days per academic year for doctoral students.
- Writers of textbooks may receive up to 3 months of paid leave.
- Salary is based on the employee’s official monthly wage.
- Paid study leave:
Employees studying while working can take paid study leave for exams, coursework, and diploma defense. The duration of different study leaves is:
- Donor leave:
Employees who donate blood or blood components get one extra paid day off. This day can be added to annual leave or used anytime within the year.
- Bereavement leave:
Employees receive short leave after a close relative dies. There is no specific limit or leave assignment for bereavement leave.
- Marriage leave:
Employees may receive short leave when they get married. These leaves are not number-specified.
Easily Navigate the Leave Policy in Azerbaijan with Skuad
Understanding the leave policies can be challenging for new businesses looking for an expansion in Azerbaijan. There are different types of leaves and pay rules under different laws. Moreover, the regulations sometimes vary based on an employee’s conditions and requirements.
Managing every leave policy in Azerbaijan alone is not a child’s play. However, Skuad makes this easy. We handle payroll, contracts, and benefits while ensuring full legal compliance. Our global EOR platform helps you onboard employees, automate payroll, and manage taxes hassle-free. We take care of everything so you can focus on growing your business.
Hiring talent globally has never been this simple. Avoid delays, compliance risks, and unnecessary costs. Book a demo, and let us handle everything while you build your team.
FAQs
What is the annual leave in Azerbaijan?
Employees are entitled to a minimum of 21 days of paid annual leave.
What is the leave permission policy in Azerbaijan?
Employees can request to split their annual leave, but one portion must be at least two weeks long.
What is the notice period in Azerbaijan?
In Azerbaijan, the notice period for employment termination varies based on the employee's length of service:
- Less than 1 year: At least 2 weeks' notice.
- 1 to 5 years: At least 4 weeks' notice.
- 5 to 10 years: At least 6 weeks' notice.
- More than 10 years: At least 9 weeks' notice.
- These notice periods are outlined in the Labor Code of Azerbaijan.
What are the weekly off days in Azerbaijan?
In Azerbaijan, the standard workweek consists of five days, totaling 40 hours, with two rest days, Saturday and Sunday. However, in certain industries, employers may implement a six-day workweek with adjusted legal working hours, resulting in one rest day per week.
How many holidays are there in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan observes 15 public holidays annually. This year, there are 19 public and national holidays in Azerbaijan. However, religious holidays are not included here.
