How annual leave works under the Employment Act
Employees covered by Singapore's Employment Act are entitled to paid annual leave once they have worked for their employer for at least 3…
Employees covered by Singapore's Employment Act are entitled to paid annual leave once they have worked for their employer for at least 3 months. The entitlement starts at 7 days in the first year of service and rises by 1 day for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 14 days from the 8th year of service onward.
| Year of service | Annual leave (days) |
|---|---|
| 1st year | 7 |
| 2nd year | 8 |
| 3rd year | 9 |
| 4th year | 10 |
| 5th year | 11 |
| 6th year | 12 |
| 7th year | 13 |
| 8th year and thereafter | 14 |
For an employee who has not completed a full year of service, leave is pro-rated using the formula: (number of completed months of service ÷ 12 months) × number of days of annual leave entitlement. MOM's rounding rule then applies to the result: a fraction of a day that is less than one half is rounded down, and a fraction of one half or more is rounded up to a full day.
Sick leave and hospitalisation leave
Separately from annual leave, employees who have completed at least 3 months of service are entitled to paid outpatient sick leave and…
Separately from annual leave, employees who have completed at least 3 months of service are entitled to paid outpatient sick leave and paid hospitalisation leave under the Employment Act. The full entitlement applies once you reach 6 months of service; between 3 and 6 months it is lower, as shown below. The hospitalisation leave figure already includes the outpatient sick leave days, it is not additional on top.
| Months of service | Outpatient sick leave | Hospitalisation leave |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 5 days | 15 days |
| 4 months | 8 days | 30 days |
| 5 months | 11 days | 45 days |
| 6 months or more | 14 days | 60 days |
How this calculator counts service
Service is counted in completed whole months between your start date and your as-of date.
Service is counted in completed whole months between your start date and your as-of date. Your current year-of-service bracket (and therefore your annual leave entitlement) is based on how many full 12-month periods of service you have completed. Days per week is not part of the Employment Act's leave-day formula: the Act sets a flat number of days regardless of your work pattern, so this field is used only to show your balance converted into work-weeks.
FAQ
How many days of annual leave do I get in Singapore?
If you are covered by the Employment Act, you get at least 7 days of paid annual leave in your first year of service, rising by 1 day for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 14 days from your 8th year onward. You become eligible once you have completed 3 months of service with your employer.
Do I need to complete a probation period before I can take annual leave?
You need to complete 3 months of service before you are entitled to paid annual leave under the Employment Act. This is a service requirement in the Act itself, separate from any probation period set out in your employment contract.
How is annual leave pro-rated for an incomplete first year?
For a partial first year, MOM's formula is: (number of completed months of service divided by 12) multiplied by your annual leave entitlement for that year (7 days).
MOM's rounding rule applies to the result: if the fraction of a day is less than one half, it is rounded down; if it is one half or more, it is rounded up to a full day.
What happens to unused annual leave?
The Employment Act itself does not set a single national rule on carrying leave forward or forfeiting it. This depends on what is agreed in your employment contract, so check your contract or staff handbook, and confirm with MOM's guidance if you are unsure.
How much paid sick leave do I get?
Once you have completed at least 3 months of service, you are entitled to paid outpatient sick leave and paid hospitalisation leave. The full entitlement of 14 days of outpatient sick leave and up to 60 days of hospitalisation leave applies once you have completed 6 months of service; between 3 and 6 months, both entitlements are lower, as shown in the table above.
What is the difference between outpatient sick leave and hospitalisation leave?
Outpatient sick leave covers ordinary sick days certified by a doctor. Hospitalisation leave covers days you need hospital care, including being warded, day surgery, or being certified as needing hospitalisation, further rest, or treatment after discharge. The 60 days of hospitalisation leave already includes your 14 days of outpatient sick leave; it is not an additional 60 days on top.
Does my annual leave keep increasing every year forever?
No. Under the Employment Act, the entitlement rises by 1 day for each year of service until it reaches 14 days from your 8th year of service onward, and it stays at 14 days for every year after that unless your contract gives you more.
Is this calculator legal advice, and does it cover everyone?
No, this tool is for general information only, based on the Employment Act minimums published by the Ministry of Manpower, and it is not a substitute for your contract, your payslip, or MOM's own guidance. Some employees, such as those in managerial or executive positions above a certain salary level, seafarers and domestic workers, are covered differently or excluded from parts of the Employment Act, so always check your own coverage on MOM's website.
Sources
4 official sources
- MOM: Annual leave, eligibility and entitlement: entitlement ladder (7 to 14 days) and the pro-ration formula and half-day rounding rule quoted above.
- MOM: Annual leave (overview)
- MOM: Sick leave, eligibility and entitlement: outpatient and hospitalisation leave by months of service.
- MOM: Sick leave (overview)
Figures checked against the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website. Last verified: September 2026.