Leave & BCEA
Annual leave
BCEA gives every employee 21 consecutive days (15 working days on a 5-day week) of paid annual leave per year.
Full definition
Annual leave under Section 20 of the BCEA is 21 consecutive days (or 1 day for every 17 worked, or 1 hour for every 17 hours worked) of fully paid leave per 12-month cycle. Leave cannot be forfeited without agreement and must be taken within 6 months of the end of the leave cycle in which it accrued.
See also
BCEA
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets the minimum working hours, leave and pay conditions for South African employees.
Sick leave
BCEA sick leave is 30 days per 36-month cycle (or the number of days worked in a 6-week period per cycle for new employees).
Leave cycle
The 12-month period over which BCEA annual leave accrues — usually from date of employment.
Automate Annual leave in your payroll
Payroll Africa handles Annual leave calculations automatically for South African employers — SARS-aligned for 2026/27. From R90/month.
Browse the full South African payroll glossary — 55 terms explained.