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Countries With the Worst Required Vacation Days for Workers

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Countries With the Worst Required Vacation Days for Workers

If there is one thing we can all look forward to every year, it’s vacation time. The good news is that some countries mandate a minimum vacation time, which means you are guaranteed a work/life balance. On the other hand, countries like the United States have no guarantees on vacation time, leaving it up to your employer to decide. This means you may receive many vacation days or absolutely zero. With this in mind, let’s look at the countries with the worst required vacation days for their workers.

20. Bangladesh

While not significant, Bangladesh offers 10 paid vacation days every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 10
  • Total paid leave: 21

19. The Bahamas

The Bahamas offers its residents 10 paid vacation days annually.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 10
  • Total paid leave: 20

18. Argentina

Argentina is one of the countries that offers 10 vacation days every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 10
  • Total paid leave: 29

17. Bhutan

Cityscape the central Thimphu capital city of Bhutan.
Bhutan offers its paid workers 9 vacation days every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 9
  • Total paid leave: 9

16. Malaysia

Malaysia gives its paid workers 8 vacation days every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 8
  • Total paid leave: 19

15. Honduras

Aerial View of National Stadium ` Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Honduras is tied with several other countries with just 8 vacation days every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 8
  • Total paid leave: 19

14. Singapore

Singapore offers up to 14 paid vacation days yearly based on employment length.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 7-14 (duration depends on employment length)
  • Total paid leave: 18-25

13. Hong Kong

Hong Kong gives paid workers up to 14 days of paid vacation annually based on employment length.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 7-14 (duration depends on employment length) 
  • Total paid leave: 24-31

12. Brunei Darussalam

Brunei only offers its paid workers 7 vacation days per year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 7
  • Total paid leave: 18

11. Thailand

Thailand only provides its workers with 6 vacation days annually.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 6
  • Total paid leave: 19

10. Philippines

The Philippines only provides its workers with 5 days of paid vacation annually.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 5
  • Total paid leave: 17

9. Nigeria

Lekki - Ikoyi Link Bridge in one of the richest neighbour in West Africa
Nigeria only provides paid workers with 5 vacation days per year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 5
  • Total paid leave: 5

8. China

China offers paid workers vacation days based on length of employment.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 5/10/15 (duration depends on employment length)
  • Total paid leave: 16/21/26

7. Taiwan

The country of Taiwan decided on vacation time based on employment length.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 3 – 30 (duration depends on employment length)
  • Total paid leave: 15-42

6. United States

The United States is one of the few countries that guarantees no vacation time.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 0
  • Total paid leave: 0

5. Palau

Palau Island aerial shot by aircraft
Palau is one of five countries that guarantees no vacation time.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 0
  • Total paid leave: 0

4. Nauru

Sunrise at Anibare beach Nauru island
Like 5 other countries, Naura offers zero guaranteed paid vacation time.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 0
  • Total paid leave: 0

3. Micronesia

Micronesia national flag waving in beautiful building skyline.
The small country of Micronesia offers zero vacation time for its employees.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 0
  • Total paid leave: 0

2. Marshall Islands

Majuro atoll and city in Marshall islands
The Marshall Islands disappointingly offers paid workers no guaranteed vacation time every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 0
  • Total paid leave: 0

1. Kiribati

Kiribati national flag waving in beautiful building skyline.
The nation of Kiribati has no guaranteed vacation time every year.
  • Paid vacation days by year: 0
  • Total paid leave: 0

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