Honduras Vacation Pay Calculator: 2026 Legal Guide
Vacation in Honduras is regulated in Chapter V of the Labor Code (Decree 189-59). Unlike other countries in the region, Honduran law uses a progressive scale: the more years of continuous service, the more vacation days.
With an L12,000 average monthly salary and 1 year of service:
- Daily salary: L12,000 ÷ 30 = L400.00
- Vacation days (1-year scale): 10 working days
- Vacation pay: 10 × L400 = L4,000.00
- Proportional 6 months (leaving early): 10 × 6/12 = 5 days → L2,000.00
Formulas: pay = (salary ÷ 30) × scale days · proportional = days × months/12 (Arts. 346 and 349). Educational estimate: confirm with your employer or a labor advisor.
Vacation day scale by seniority (Art. 346)
| Years of continuous service | Paid working days |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 10 days |
| 2 years | 12 days |
| 3 years | 15 days |
| 4 years or more | 20 days |
Continuity is not broken by unpaid leave, justified illness, contract renewal or extension (Art. 346, final paragraph). In seasonal work, continuity is satisfied with a minimum of 200 days worked in the year (Art. 347).
Pay examples by salary level
1-year scale (10 working days):
| Average monthly salary | Daily (÷ 30) | Pay for 10 days |
|---|---|---|
| L8,000 | L266.67 | L2,666.67 |
| L12,000 | L400.00 | L4,000.00 |
| L15,000 | L500.00 | L5,000.00 |
| L20,000 | L666.67 | L6,666.67 |
Example on a higher tier: L15,000 salary and 3 years of service (15 days) → 15 × L500 = L7,500.
Proportional payout on exit (Art. 349)
If the employment relationship ends before you take the vacation, you receive the cash equivalent:
- Example 1: 3 years of service (15-day scale), 6 months of the period → 15 × 6 ÷ 12 = 7.5 days paid.
- Example 2: 1 year of service (10-day scale), 9 months of the period → 10 × 9 ÷ 12 = 7.5 days paid.
- Example 3: unjustified dismissal with 4 years (20-day scale), 3 months of the period → 20 × 3 ÷ 12 = 5 days paid, plus statutory severance (Art. 345).
Rules most people miss
- Wage base: pay is computed on the average ordinary wages of the last 6 months (Art. 352), not a single paycheck.
- Payment timing: the employer must settle and pay vacation money at least 3 days before the leave starts, with 10 days notice of the dates (Art. 348).
- No cash-out while employed: paying vacation in cash instead of granting it is prohibited, except with special Ministry of Labor authorization (Art. 348).
- No accumulation: except once, for up to 2 years, for technical, managerial or trusted positions that are hard to replace (Art. 350).
- Written record: the employer must document the grant with the worker's signature or fingerprint; otherwise vacation is presumed not granted (Art. 355).
- Full entitlement: vacation applies even if the contract does not require full-time hours (Art. 356), including domestic workers (Art. 156).
Pro-rata on exit (Art. 349)
If the contract ends before you take vacation, you receive the proportional cash equivalent:
| Salary | Years | Months in period | Days | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L15,000 | 3 | 6 | 7.5 | L3,750 |
| L12,000 | 1 | 12 | 10 | L4,000 |
| L12,000 | 4 | 12 | 20 | L8,000 |
| L9,000 | 1 | 9 | 7.5 | L2,250 |
FAQ
Working days, consecutive (Art. 346): Sundays and holidays inside the period are not deducted from your balance.
Yes. Renewal or extension of the contract does not break continuity (Art. 346).
No. During vacation you cannot work for another employer (Art. 354).
How to use the calculator
- Enter your average monthly salary (if your pay varies, use your last 6 months' average, as Art. 352 requires).
- Enter your years of continuous service: the tool applies the 10/12/15/20 scale of Art. 346 automatically.
- If you are leaving before taking vacation, enter the months of the period to get the Art. 349 proportional payout.
Educational estimate based on the current Labor Code of Honduras. It does not replace legal advice or your employer's official settlement.