Paid Leave Entitlements in China: A Complete Guide
China's labor law sets minimum paid leave standards; many employers (especially foreign firms, tech, finance) offer more. All figures below are statutory minimums for full-time employees.
Annual Leave (Vacation)
| Years of Service | Minimum Days |
|---|
| 1–10 years | 5 days |
| 10–20 years | 10 days |
| 20+ years | 15 days |
Note: "Years of service" includes cumulative work history, not just current employer.
Other Statutory Paid Leave
| Leave Type | Entitlement | Notes |
|---|
| Sick Leave | Up to 14 days/year (up to 6 months for serious illness) | Paid at 60–100% of wage per local rules |
| Maternity Leave | 98 days (128+ in some provinces/cases) | Includes 15 days pre-birth; extended for multiples, C-section, late pregnancy |
| Paternity Leave | 10–30 days | Varies by province (e.g., 15 days in Shanghai, 30 in Guangdong) |
| Marriage Leave | 3–30 days | 3 days national minimum; many provinces give 10–30 (e.g., 13 in Shanghai, 20 in Guangdong) |
| Bereavement Leave | 1–3 days | For parents, spouse, children; varies locally |
| National Holidays | 11 days total | New Year (1), Spring Festival (3), Qingming (1), Labor Day (1), Dragon Boat (1), Mid-Autumn (1), National Day (3). Adjusted weekends create 7-day "Golden Weeks." |
Practical Advice
- Check your employment contract and company handbook—many multinationals offer 15–25 annual days, 6-month maternity, etc.
- Local regulations (Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangdong) often exceed national minimums.
- Unused annual leave must be compensated at 300% daily wage if not carried over (per labor law).
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