COUNTRY

Employment contracts In Afghanistan must be in writing in the local language. A translation may be attached to the contract for those who do not speak the local language. The employer must give a copy of the signed contract to the employee and to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The standard work week in Afghanistan is 40 hours over five days. Employees are entitled to a percentage of basic wages for overtime during the work week, weekends and holidays. Special rules apply to younger workers and to work performed at night.

Employees receive 20 days of paid sick leave a year in Afghanistan. If an employee is sick for more than five consecutive days, a note from a doctor or health organization may be required.

A female employee is entitled to 90 days of paid maternity leave in Afghanistan, 30 days before the birth date and 60 days after. There is no statutory paternity leave.

Afghanistan does not have minimum wages for private workers. Bonuses are at the employer’s discretion.

Full-time employees are entitled to 20 consecutive days of annual leave per year in Afghanistan, after working for their employer for 11 consecutive months.

In Afghanistan, the public holidays are:

• Liberation Day

• First Day of Ramadan

• Eid al-Fitr

• Mujahedeen Victory Day

• Labor Day

• Day of Arafat

• Eid al-Adha

• Ashura

• Independence Day (National Day)

• Mawlid

Afghanistan has a limited healthcare system, and no public healthcare system. 

Employers are required to notify employees prior to terminating employment in Afghanistan. The notice period is one month. An employment contract may be terminated for many reasons including:

• agreement by the parties,

• completion of a fixed-term contract,

• retirement,

• a disability that hinders the performance of work,

• cessation of work for more than six months,

• dissolution of the administration or reduction in the number of the staff, and

• repeated misconduct following disciplinary actions.