I started working in my current company on November 20, 2018. And I want to take my first annual leave on September 1, 2019. Based on this, https:// www.arabtimesonline.com/ news/first-nod-to-35-privatepaid- leave-days/ my understanding is that I can take my leave as early as 6 months from my date of joining the company, am I right? If yes, it should be a 35 days paid leave, right? Your immediate response is highly appreciated

Name withheld

Answer: Yes you can take your first annual leave on September 1, as you indicated because by that date you would have put in the minimum nine months required to apply for your 30-days paid annual leave.

The 35 days you talked about was part of a bill tabled in parliament but did not see the light of the day as that aspect was shot down by the executive. We must point out that even though the permitted annual paid leave is 30 days, the worker shall be entitled to a leave for a fraction of the year in proportion of the time he spent at work even during his/her first year of employment.

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