Employment
Sick leave in Kosovo: 20 paid days a year
How many days of paid sick leave employees get in Kosovo, who pays, what a medical certificate must show and what happens after 20 days.
Andi B. · · 3 min read
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When an employee gets sick, the questions are always the same: is it paid, for how many days, what document is needed and who bears the cost. The Law on Labour answers most of them, but many businesses don't have their own rules written down, and that's where disagreements start.
20 days at full pay
An employee is entitled to up to 20 working days of sick leave a year, at full pay (100%), paid by the employer. The condition is a medical certificate from an authorised doctor.
This applies to every employee with an employment contract, whatever the contract type. Days are counted as working days, not calendar days.
Work injuries and illnesses
When the illness or injury is work-related, the rules are more protective and paid leave can last longer. In these cases:
- document the accident or illness at work immediately;
- notify the Labour Inspectorate where the law requires, for example for serious accidents;
- check your employee insurance, if you have it.
Workplace safety isn't just a legal duty; a single accident can cost far more than prevention.
After 20 days
The law provides that after the employer-paid days, compensation comes from health insurance. In practice, the health insurance scheme hasn't fully covered this part. The usual options are:
- unpaid leave, by agreement;
- using remaining annual leave;
- a collective agreement or private insurance that covers more.
For employers, it's worth writing down in your internal rules how you handle these cases, so every employee is treated the same.
The medical certificate
The certificate should include:
- the employee's name;
- the period of incapacity for work (from and to);
- the doctor's or institution's stamp and signature;
- the date of issue.
The certificate is usually handed in within a few days of the absence starting. The diagnosis doesn't need to be shown to the employer; confirmation of incapacity is enough. Health data is sensitive data and must be stored carefully. See Personal data protection.
What internal rules should cover
- How to report an absence: to whom, how and by what time.
- From which day a certificate is required.
- The deadline for handing it in.
- What happens with absences without a certificate: treated as unjustified absence.
Filing in EDI
Pay for sick days is salary and is declared in EDI with tax and contributions like any other month. See Payroll tax and pension contributions.
Unjustified absence
Absence without notice and without a certificate can be a breach of work duties. But before any disciplinary step, follow the procedure: a written warning, a chance to explain and documentation. A rushed dismissal often loses in court. See Ending an employment contract.
For other leave, see Maternity leave and Hiring your first employee.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of paid sick leave does an employee get?
Under the Law on Labour, an employee is entitled to up to 20 working days of sick leave a year, paid at 100% by the employer, with a medical certificate.
Is a medical certificate needed for one day off?
The employer can ask for one and usually does. Internal rules should say clearly from which day a certificate is required.
What happens when illness lasts more than 20 days?
After the 20 days paid by the employer, the law provides for payment from health insurance. While that scheme doesn't fully work, the employee can take unpaid leave or use annual leave.
Can an employee on sick leave be dismissed?
Not because of illness during justified sick leave. Unjustified absence without a certificate is a different matter.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice. The rules are based on the Law on Labour in force and may change with a new law or collective agreements.
- Employment
