The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Zambia

Employees with 12 months of continuous employment in Zambia are entitled to 24 days of annual leave per year. If the employer fails to provide the full leave, they must compensate the employee for the remaining leave at the end of the 12-month period.

Employees in Zambia are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave, extendable to 18 weeks for multiple births. Those with 24 months of service with the same employer receive full pay during maternity leave and have the right to their previous job or a suitable alternative upon return. Additionally, they are entitled to nursing breaks totaling 60 minutes per day.

Fathers with at least 12 months of service before childbirth are entitled to five days of paid leave, to be taken within seven days of the child's birth.

Employees in Zambia receive paid sick leave, with employers covering the payments. Initially, the first 3 months of absence are fully paid, followed by 3 months at half pay. A medical certificate is required from the second day of absence onward.

Female employees are entitled to one day off per month without needing a medical certificate or providing a reason to the employer, regardless of motherhood status.

Employees can take up to 12 days of compassionate leave with full pay in a calendar year under circumstances such as experiencing the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or dependent, or presenting a valid compassionate reason.

Employees with at least six months of service can use Family Responsibility Leave, which allows them to take up to seven paid days off per calendar year to care for a sick spouse, child, or dependent.