Punjab Labour Code 2026 Leave: 18 Days Annual, 10 Casual, 8 Sick
The Punjab Labour Code 2026 gives 18 days annual leave, 10 casual, 8 sick and up to 130 days iddat leave. See carry forward rules and what you can claim.
The Punjab Labour Code 2026 gives workers 18 days of annual leave after 12 months, 10 days of casual leave, 8 days of sick leave, and fully paid iddat leave of up to 130 days for a widow. It is enacted law. Reports in late May 2026 said the Government has notified it as in force, but we could not confirm the start date from the Gazette.
Leave is where many workers lose out: the days are not written down, or an employer asks you to sign them away. We read the leave chapter of the Code, Act IX of 2026, on 21 October 2026. We could not open the Gazette to confirm the commencement notice, so check the start date before relying on it. For today's rules, see the guide to leave entitlement at work in Pakistan.
Annual leave is 18 days after 12 months and cannot be signed away
Section 192 gives 18 calendar days of paid annual leave after 12 months of continuous service, in a leave year running 1 January to 31 December. Any agreement to give up annual leave, for money or otherwise, is void.
| Leave type | Days a year | Carry forward |
|---|---|---|
| Annual leave | 18 after 12 months | Builds up to 30 days, then paid in full |
| Casual leave | 10, ordinarily 3 at a time | None |
| Sick leave | 8 with full pay | Up to 16 days |
| Quarantine leave | Up to 14 | Not stated |
| Iddat leave (widow) | Up to 130 in all | Not applicable |
Unused annual leave builds up to 30 days and is paid out when you leave
Untaken leave accumulates until it reaches 30 days. Beyond that, the extra days must be paid in full. When a job ends, unused leave is paid out, in proportion if you worked less than a year. Leave of seven days or more must be paid in advance.
Public holidays are not counted as annual leave. You may split annual leave into two parts, each at least one week. It cannot run at the same time as casual, sick or maternity leave. The employer must keep a yearly leave calendar for staff with at least one month of service.
Sick leave is 8 paid days, with a doctor's certificate after 2 days
Section 193 gives eight days of sick leave on full pay each calendar year. Tell the employer as soon as reasonably possible. Leave beyond two days needs a certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Accumulation stops at 16 days.
Seasonal workers get a share based on the months they work. Workers covered by the Provincial Employees' Social Security Ordinance have their own sickness benefit and are excluded from quarantine and iddat leave under the Code. For that route, see PESSI benefits for Punjab workers.
Casual leave is 10 days and quarantine leave is up to 14
Section 195 gives ten days of casual leave on full pay, ordinarily no more than three days at once. It cannot be saved for next year or taken together with other leave. Section 194 gives up to 14 days of paid quarantine leave for an infectious disease.
Quarantine leave needs the district medical superintendent's recommendation, and only where attending work is hazardous to others. Casual leave for seasonal staff is in proportion to the months worked.
A widow gets fully paid iddat leave of up to 130 days
Section 196 gives a woman whose husband has died fully paid iddat leave in line with her faith, never more than 130 days. It does not count toward any other leave. Workers under the social security law are excluded from this section.
Maternity and other parental leave sit in a separate chapter that we did not read for this page. For today's private sector rules, see the guide to maternity leave in the private sector.
- Ask your employer for the yearly leave calendar.
- Check your pay slip lists annual, casual and sick leave balances.
- Take a doctor's certificate for sick leave beyond two days.
- Refuse to sign any paper that waives annual leave.
- Ask for unused leave pay in your final dues.
Common questions about Punjab Labour Code leave
How many days of annual leave will I get?
Eighteen calendar days with pay after 12 months of continuous service. You may ask for pro rata leave earlier.
Can I be paid instead of taking annual leave?
No. Section 192 says any agreement to give up annual leave, with or without compensation, is void.
Is the Code in force now?
Reportedly yes. Reports in late May 2026 said the Government notified it, but we could not open the Gazette to confirm the date.
Do public holidays count as leave?
No. Public holidays are not counted as annual leave, even when they fall inside it.
When do I need a medical certificate?
For sick leave beyond two days, from a registered medical practitioner.
Does the Code cover government employees?
It applies to government workplaces but excludes civil servants, the defence services and the police. Notices are on the Punjab Labour Department site.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 21 October 2026. We read sections 192 to 196 of the Punjab Labour Code 2026, Act IX of 2026, gazetted on 10 February 2026, from a full-text copy of the Act. We did not read the parental leave chapter, could not open the Gazette copy to confirm the commencement notice. The Act is also listed on the Punjab laws portal.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
