COUNTRY

An employment contract in Barbados must be written and include the start date, job title, job description, work hours, probation period, notice period, workplace location and annual leave entitlement. Employers can use fixed-term contracts for projects of a specific length, and they can use indefinite contracts for permanent work.

The standard workweek in Barbados is 40 hours over five days. Overtime is paid at 150% above the basic rate on a weekday and 200% on a public holiday. Special rules apply to younger workers.

Barbados does not have statutory sick leave. However, it is common for employers to grant a number of sick days leave with pay.

Female employees receive 12 weeks of paid maternity leave in Barbados if they have finished one year of service. Generally, expectant mothers take six weeks of leave before the expected due date, with the remaining weeks of maternity leave taken after the birth. Maternity leave can be extended by six weeks in the event of a pregnancy-related illness. There is no statutory paternity leave.

Employers are not required to pay employees bonuses in Barbados but may elect to do so as part of their compensation package. Bonuses based on performance are common.

Employees receive 15 days of paid annual leave in Barbados after a year of service, which increases to 20 days after five years of service. The employer decides the dates for the annual leave, and it must be taken in a single continuous period.

In Barbados, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day

• Errol Barrow Day

• Good Friday

• Easter Monday

• National Heroes Day

• Labor Day / May Day

• Whit Monday

• Kadooment Day

• Emancipation Day

• Independence Day

• Christmas Day

• Boxing Day

Barbados provides universal healthcare but private supplementary healthcare is recommended.

Employers and employees both can terminate an employment contract by providing notice. The notice period ranges from one to 10 weeks depending on the employee’s length of service. Special rules apply to redundancy and disciplinary dismissals. Employees can claim severance if placed on a lay-off for 22 consecutive weeks, or 18 weeks within a period of 24 weeks.