Vacation Leave in Guatemala
In Guatemala, vacation rights are regulated by the Labor Code in articles 130 to 137. Every employee is entitled to 15 paid working days of vacation after each year of continuous employment.
How is vacation pay calculated?
Vacation pay is calculated as follows:
- Daily salary = Monthly salary ÷ 30
- Vacation pay = Daily salary × 15 days
Example: With a salary of Q5,000:
- Daily salary: Q5,000 ÷ 30 = Q166.67
- Vacation pay: Q166.67 × 15 = Q2,500.00
Important rules
- Vacation days cannot be accumulated: they must be taken within 60 days after completing the work year
- The employee must receive their full salary during the vacation period
- Vacation cannot be compensated with money, except when the employment relationship ends
- Paid work is not allowed during vacation
Proportional vacation
If the employment relationship ends before completing a year, the employee is entitled to proportional vacation pay for the time worked.
Vacation bonus
Although not legally required, many companies in Guatemala pay an additional 30% vacation bonus on top of vacation pay as an extra benefit.