How much annual leave am I entitled to under the BCEA?

Section 20 of the BCEA gives every employee at least 21 consecutive days of paid annual leave per annual leave cycle — equivalent to 15 working days on a 5-day week or 18 working days on a 6-day week. This accrues at 1 day for every 17 days worked, or 1 hour for every 17 hours worked.

How is sick leave calculated in South Africa?

Under section 22, sick leave is 30 days over a 36-month cycle for a 6-day worker (36 days) or the number of days the employee would normally work in 6 weeks. In the first 6 months of employment the entitlement is 1 day for every 26 days worked.

What is family responsibility leave?

Section 27 gives full-time employees with more than 4 months' service 3 paid days per annual cycle for the birth of a child, illness of a child, or death of a spouse, parent, adoptive parent, grandparent, sibling, grandchild or child.

How much parental / maternity leave is provided?

Maternity leave is at least 4 consecutive months (unpaid by the employer, but UIF maternity benefits apply). Parental leave for a non-birthing parent is 10 consecutive days. Adoption and commissioning parental leave is 10 weeks for one parent and 10 days for the other.

How is leave paid out on termination?

Section 40 requires the employer to pay out any accrued but untaken annual leave on termination, calculated at the employee's current rate of remuneration. Daily rate = monthly salary × 12 ÷ 52 ÷ days worked per week.

South Africa · BCEA s.20 · s.22 · s.27 · s.40

BCEA leave calculator (South Africa)

Work out annual leave accrual and payout under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and see sick, family responsibility and parental leave entitlements.

Leave payout calculator

Monthly salary (R)Days worked per weekUntaken leave daysMonths worked in cycle

Daily rate: R 692.31
Leave payout: R 6923.08
Full-cycle entitlement: 15 working days
Accrued so far (approx.): 15.0 days

Daily rate = monthly × 12 ÷ 52 ÷ days-per-week. Accrual approximates BCEA s.20's “1 day per 17 days worked” rule.

Leave entitlements at a glance

Leave type	Entitlement	BCEA section
Annual	21 consecutive days (15 working days on 5-day week)	s.20
Sick	6 weeks over a 36-month cycle	s.22
Family responsibility	3 paid days per cycle (after 4 months' service)	s.27
Maternity	4 consecutive months (UIF benefits apply)	s.25
Parental	10 consecutive days (non-birthing parent)	s.25A

Let Patuza track leave for you

We run accurate BCEA leave accruals, balances and payouts every pay cycle — no spreadsheet drift, no disputes at termination.

Talk to a payroll specialist

Related guides & calculators

Overtime pay calculator →
BCEA s.10 rates for weekday, Sunday and public holiday work.
Notice pay guide →
BCEA notice periods and pay in lieu of notice.
Severance pay calculator →
Retrenchment calculation with SARS tax breakdown.
UIF contributions →
1% + 1% split and the current earnings ceiling.

General information based on the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Not legal advice.