Employment and labor laws vary from country to country. This guide is intended to provide the most up to date information available. We will update this guide as needed when changes are made to the laws.
Employment Contracts
Employers are legally required to provide formal written contracts for all employees that include salary/wage, termination terms, job title, etc. The contracts must be written in Arabic and use the Libyan Dinar currency (LYD).
Working Hours
Standard working hours within Libya are 48 hours per week, 10 hours per day.
Overtime
All work more than the standard 48 hours a week is to be paid as overtime and is regulated by the employment contract or collective agreements etc. In general, maximum limits for overtime are set at 3 hours per day and paid at 150.00% of the standard salary rate.
Public Holidays
The local government often decides to move public holidays falling on weekends to a weekday as a day off in lieu.
The religious holidays are determined by the lunar cycle and will be confirmed nearer the date of the holiday.
For the year 2024:
- Feb 17: Libyan Revolution Day (Saturday)
- Mar 19: Commemoration of the Victory over Gaddafi (Tuesday)
- Apr 10: Eid al-Fitr (Wednesday) – Tentative Date
- Apr 11: Eid al-Fitr Holiday (Thursday) – Tentative Date
- Apr 12: Eid al-Fitr Holiday (Friday) – Tentative Date
- May 1: May Day (Wednesday)
- Jun 15: Arafat Day (Saturday)
- Jun 16: Eid al-Adha (Sunday) – Tentative Date
- Jun 17: Eid al-Adha Holiday (Monday) – Tentative Date
- Jun 18: Eid al-Adha Holiday (Tuesday) – Tentative Date
- Jul 7: Islamic New Year (Sunday)
- Sep 15: Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Sunday) – Tentative Date
- Sep 16: Martyrs’ Day (Monday)
- Oct 23: Liberation Day (Wednesday)
- Dec 24: Independence Day (Tuesday)
Annual Leave (vacation)
The annual leave entitlement in Libya is 30 working days of paid leave. The entitlement can increase to 45 working days of paid leave for employees aged 59+ who have been continuously employed for at least 20 years.
Sick Leave
The entitlement of paid sick leave is dependent on the employee’s seniority. Employees who are sick in one continuous period are eligible for 45 days of sickness, while those who are not sick in one continuous period are eligible for 60 days of sick leave per year.
To qualify for sick leave, the employee must present a valid medical certificate.
Maternity and Paternity
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to a maternity leave of 14 weeks, six of which are to be taken before the predicted due date and eight weeks after the birth. In multiple or complicated births, the leave entitlement is increased to 16 weeks of leave.
Paternity Leave
There are no provisions in the law for paternity leave.
Paternal Leave
There are no provisions in the law for parental leave
Other Leave
There are no additional statutory leave requirements in Libya.
Employee Severance and Terminations
Termination Process
Employers can terminate a fix term contract by giving the following reasons – business, personal or worker’s’ misconduct. It requires notice and a written explanation for the termination. If the reason is misconduct, a warning needs to be given and the employee gets a chance to explain his or her actions.
Employers can terminate an employment agreement for the following reasons:
- Expiration of a contract
- Medical reasons that would prevent the employee from fulfilling their duties.
- Conviction of a crime
- For termination initiated by either the employee or employer- a letter of resignation or termination must be sent to the other party.
At the end of the employment term, the employer must provide a certificate that states:
- Start and end date of the employment.
- Type of work performed.
- Salary information (optional)
- Other benefits received (optional)
Notice Period
The notice period in Libya is typically 30 days for both the employee and employer.
A notice period is required if an employee’s employment contract has been terminated due to an employee’s failure to fulfil their obligations, the employer falsifying their identity, financial loss due to mistakes made by the employee in question, and safety instructions not being followed by the employee.
Taking an example of an employee that has been absent from work without justification for more than 20 days in a year or more than ten consecutive days in one period. In that case, a written warning must be issued before dismissal on the 5th consecutive day or the 10th day of absence within the year.
Severance Pay
Severance pay for Libyan nationals is not required; however, it is for ex-patriates. Ex-patriates are entitled to half a years’ salary for every year of employment up to 5 years.
Probation Period
The probation period in Libya is typically six months.
Payroll Cycle
The payroll cycle in Libya is generally monthly, and employees are paid at least once a month.
The monthly minimum wage is 450.00 LYD.
13th Salary
There are no provisions in the law for a 13th-month salary.
Contributions
Employer Payroll Contributions
VISA
Libya is now known for its strict visa policy, and very few countries are visa exempt. Only nationals of Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey can enter and stay without a visa.
Citizens of Jordan are granted a 30-day stay, while nationals of Turkey are allowed to remain in Libya for up to three months. All other foreigners are required to visit the nearest diplomatic mission of Libya and apply for a visa.
A Libyan work visa is granted to foreign nationals who wish to work in Libya and working in the country without a work visa is illegal.
To get a Libya business visa, you must have an invitation letter from a company that operates in Libya or sponsorship. The company must initiate the work visa process via the Work Department in Libya.
The initial work visa is usually granted for three months, which can be renewed or extended once inside Libya.
VAT
There is no standard rate of VAT in Libya.