In accordance with the Labor Standards Act (LSA), workers in Taiwan are entitled to a certain number of leave days each year, depending on their employment contract. These include public holidays, sick leave, and annual leave or “vacation leave,” which foreign workers usually take to return to their home countries and spend time with their families.
The LSA also states that it is mandatory for employers to inform their workers about their annual leave, including the number of days, possible schedules, and so on. Read on to learn more about how to apply for a vacation leave as a foreign worker in Taiwan!
All You Need to Know About Vacation Leave
Every year, foreign workers in Taiwan can take an annual leave (a.k.a. vacation leave) for up to 30 days, depending on their length of service. Many employees use this time to return to their home countries and spend much-needed quality time with their loved ones.
How Many Days is My Vacation Leave?
Basically, the length of your annual leave is based on the number of months and years that you’ve worked for the company. The longer the length of service, the higher the number of annual leave days, as follows:
- More than 6 months but less than 1 year: 3 days annual leave
- 1 year or more but less than 2 years: 7 days
- 2 years or more but less than 3 years: 10 days
- 3 years or more but less than 5 years: 14 days
- 5 years or more but less than 10 years: 15 days
- 10 years or more: 1 additional day per year, up to a maximum of 30 days.
How Do I File a Vacation Leave?
To file for a vacation leave, you’ll need to submit a formal request to your employer, or to the company’s human resources department. Be sure to ask them about the specific guidelines and procedures, as these may vary slightly among different companies.
Of course, when you file for a leave, don’t forget to discuss the schedule with your employer until you reach an agreement. Both of you will need to consider job-related activities and deadlines, as well as your personal reasons for taking a leave.
What Happens to Unused Annual Leave Days?
What if a worker has not used up all of his/her annual leave days? In these cases, the unused days may either be:
- Carried Over to the Next Year. As long as the worker and employer agree, unused annual leave days may be carried over from one year to the next.
- Converted into Salary. Unused annual leave days may be converted into salary and given to the worker: (a) in the second year after they were given; or (b) when the worker’s job contract ends.
The above provisions are mentioned in the Labor Standards Act (LSA). These policies help ensure that workers have enough time for rest and recreation, especially with their families and loved ones back home. This way, employees are able to have a “work-life” balance!
On the other hand, you might encounter cases where the employer has suddenly decided to change your leave day. Is this allowed? Check out this article to learn the answer to this question, and to know what you can do in these situations.