WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Do countries guarantee part-time workers access to paid sick leave?

Part-time workers are employees whose normal hours of work are less than full-time. The International Labor Organization asserts that part-time work has “grown in importance” over past decades—particularly for women for whom it is currently “the most widespread type of non-standard employment.”

Eligibility for paid sick leave benefits is assessed using the definition of part-time work in relation to weekly hours of full-time work as defined in national labor legislation, regardless of sector. For example, if part-time work is defined as 50% of full-time work in a country with a 40-hour work week, it is calculated as 20 hours per week, on average. This threshold is defined in relation to normal full-time hours, and does not include overtime.

Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work means that workers are guaranteed national paid sick leave, and legislation does not explicitly guarantee nor deny coverage to part-time workers

Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement means that countries explicitly include part-time workers and (1) there is no explicit definition or threshold for part-time work, or (2) part-time work is defined as a maximum number of hours, or (3) part-time work is defined as “less than full-time.”

Countries

Republic of Korea - No national paid sick leave

Marshall Islands - No national paid sick leave

Micronesia, Federated States of - No national paid sick leave

Nauru - No national paid sick leave

Palau - No national paid sick leave

Somalia - No national paid sick leave

Sri Lanka - No national paid sick leave

Tonga - No national paid sick leave

United States of America - No national paid sick leave

Algeria - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work at least 20 hours per week

San Marino - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work at least 20 hours per week

Tajikistan - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work at least 20 hours per week

Iraq - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Malaysia - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Montenegro - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Namibia - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

New Zealand - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

South Africa - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

South Sudan - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Syria - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Uganda - Guaranteed to part-time workers who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Afghanistan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Andorra - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Antigua and Barbuda - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Argentina - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Australia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Azerbaijan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bahamas - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bahrain - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bangladesh - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Barbados - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Benin - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bolivia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Botswana - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Brazil - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Brunei - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Burundi - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Cambodia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Cameroon - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Canada - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Chad - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Chile - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

China - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Colombia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Comoros - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Republic of the Congo - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Costa Rica - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Cuba - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Czech Republic - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Djibouti - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Dominica - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Dominican Republic - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Egypt - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

El Salvador - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Equatorial Guinea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Eritrea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Estonia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Ethiopia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Gabon - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

The Gambia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Grenada - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guatemala - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guinea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guyana - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Haiti - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

India - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Indonesia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Iran - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Jamaica - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Jordan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Kenya - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Kuwait - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Laos - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Lebanon - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Lesotho - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Liberia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Libya - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Liechtenstein - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Madagascar - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Malawi - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Maldives - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Mauritania - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Mexico - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Monaco - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Morocco - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Nicaragua - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Niger - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Nigeria - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Oman - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Pakistan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Panama - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Papua New Guinea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Paraguay - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

The Philippines - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Qatar - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Rwanda - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sao Tome and Principe - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sierra Leone - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Solomon Islands - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

St. Kitts and Nevis - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sudan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Suriname - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Eswatini - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Switzerland - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Tanzania - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Thailand - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Timor-Leste - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Trinidad and Tobago - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

United Arab Emirates - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Uruguay - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Vanuatu - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Vietnam - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Yemen - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Zambia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Zimbabwe - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Albania - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Angola - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Armenia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Austria - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Belarus - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Belgium - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Belize - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Bhutan - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Bulgaria - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Burkina Faso - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Cabo Verde - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Central African Republic - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Cote d'Ivoire - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Croatia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Cyprus - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Denmark - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Ecuador - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Fiji - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Finland - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

France - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Georgia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Germany - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Ghana - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Greece - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Greenland - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Honduras - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Hungary - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Iceland - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Ireland - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Israel - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Italy - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Japan - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Kazakhstan - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Kiribati - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Kyrgyzstan - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Latvia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Lithuania - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Luxembourg - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

North Macedonia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Mali - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Malta - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Mauritius - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Moldova - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Mongolia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Mozambique - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Myanmar - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Nepal - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

The Netherlands - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Norway - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Peru - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Poland - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Portugal - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Romania - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Russian Federation - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Samoa - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Senegal - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Serbia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Seychelles - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Singapore - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Slovakia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Slovenia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Spain - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

St. Lucia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Sweden - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Togo - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Tunisia - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Türkiye - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Turkmenistan - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Tuvalu - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Ukraine - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

United Kingdom - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Uzbekistan - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement

Venezuela - Guaranteed to part-time workers without an explicit minimum hourly requirement