Bosnia lags behind region in vacation days and allowances

These findings come from a regional survey on annual leave, conducted by the Alma Career group in cooperation with MojPosao.ba, based on responses from more than 2,500 participants across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and North Macedonia.

Although labour laws in both of BiH’s entities guarantee a minimum of 20 working days of paid leave, employees in practice use only slightly more - 21 days. By comparison, the average in Croatia is 25 days, while North Macedonia stands at 20. Despite meeting legal minimums, BiH remains among the lowest in the region for time off.

Survey data shows that employees in BiH would prefer 28 vacation days annually, a full seven days more than they currently receive, a trend mirrored in neighbouring countries.

Company size and ownership type strongly influence vacation entitlements. In BiH, public sector employees enjoy the most time off, averaging 27.6 days, while those in locally-owned private companies receive significantly less, just 18.9 days on average.

The same pattern holds across the region: larger companies, regardless of ownership, are more likely to grant longer vacations compared to small businesses.

When it comes to vacation allowances, Bosnia and Herzegovina records the lowest expectations, with only 44% of workers anticipating any bonus. This contrasts with 55% in Croatia and a striking 87% in North Macedonia.

The most commonly expected vacation allowance in BiH is up to 1,000 Bosnian marks (approximately €500), similar to Croatia, while in North Macedonia the typical amount is up to €250.

State-owned companies remain the most reliable source of vacation benefits. Between 70% and 90% of employees in large public institutions in BiH and Croatia regularly receive allowances, while that number drops to just 20–40% in small, locally-owned firms.

Foreign-owned private companies are generally more consistent in paying allowances than domestic ones. North Macedonia stands out as an exception, where almost all companies, regardless of size or ownership, provide vacation allowances.

Across all three countries, a clear divide exists: state institutions and foreign companies offer better vacation benefits, while employees in small domestic private firms remain in a less favourable position.