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Free tools › Annual leave by country

Annual leave: Australia vs Singapore

Statutory annual leave in Australia and Singapore, side by side, with the primary source for every figure.

How does annual leave compare between Australia and Singapore?

Australia: 4 weeks' paid leave a year (5 for defined shiftworkers), accruing from day one, plus 8 national public holidays and state additions. Singapore: 7 days in year one, rising a day per year to 14 days from year eight, plus 11 paid public holidays. At five years' service that means 4 weeks in Australia and 11 days in Singapore.

Australia vs Singapore, side by side

AustraliaSingapore
The rule4 weeks' paid leave a year (5 for defined shiftworkers), accruing from day one, plus 8 national public holidays and state additions.7 days in year one, rising a day per year to 14 days from year eight, plus 11 paid public holidays.
At 1 year4 weeks7 days
At 5 years4 weeks11 days
At 10 years4 weeks14 days
Key numbersEntitlement: 4 weeks a year (5 for award shiftworkers); Public holidays: 8 national; 10-13 typical by state; Leave loading: Award-dependent, commonly 17.5%Year one: 7 days; From year eight: 14 days; Public holidays: 11

Australia

The NES gives full-time and part-time employees 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year, accruing progressively and rolling over indefinitely, with unused leave paid out on termination. Shiftworkers defined by an award get 5 weeks. Leave loading (commonly 17.5%) applies only where an award or agreement provides it. Public holidays add 8 national days, with states typically taking the total to 10 to 13.

  • Entitlement4 weeks a year (5 for award shiftworkers)
  • Public holidays8 national; 10-13 typical by state
  • Leave loadingAward-dependent, commonly 17.5%
  • On terminationUnused leave paid out
  • Casuals get no paid annual leave; the 25% loading is the trade-off.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman (NES, Fair Work Act ss.86-87). Checked July 2026.

Singapore

Singapore has the leanest statutory leave scale of the six markets: the Employment Act minimum starts at 7 days and adds one per year of service, capping at 14 from the eighth year. Contracts commonly provide more. All Employment Act employees are covered, managers and executives included, after 3 months' service. Public holidays add 11 paid days.

  • Year one7 days
  • From year eight14 days
  • Public holidays11
  • Qualifying service3 months
Length of serviceEntitlement
1st year7 days
2nd year8 days
3rd year9 days
4th year10 days
5th year11 days
6th year12 days
7th year13 days
8th year onwards14 days
  • Don't tie leave to the S$2,600 salary threshold; that gates hours-of-work protections, not leave.

Source: Ministry of Manpower (Employment Act s.88A). Checked July 2026.

Hiring in both markets?

Put a full number on each side with the true-cost calculators: True cost of an employee (Australia) and True cost of an employee (Singapore). The complete six-market picture is on the Annual leave by country page.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the government source for its market.

MarketSourceRule / effectiveVerified
AustraliaFair Work OmbudsmanNES, Fair Work Act ss.86-87Checked July 2026
SingaporeMinistry of ManpowerEmployment Act s.88AChecked July 2026
Where Compono fits

Comparing entitlements is the easy half of hiring across markets. The hard half is whether the person you hire in Sydney, Singapore or Seattle will actually work out, and that risk looks the same in every jurisdiction. Compono matches candidates on how they work, not just what the CV claims, so the hires behind these numbers hold up wherever you make them.

See how it works

Common questions

What is the rule on annual leave in Australia?

4 weeks' paid leave a year (5 for defined shiftworkers), accruing from day one, plus 8 national public holidays and state additions. The NES gives full-time and part-time employees 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year, accruing progressively and rolling over indefinitely, with unused leave paid out on termination.

What is the rule on annual leave in Singapore?

7 days in year one, rising a day per year to 14 days from year eight, plus 11 paid public holidays. Singapore has the leanest statutory leave scale of the six markets: the Employment Act minimum starts at 7 days and adds one per year of service, capping at 14 from the eighth year.

Where can I check the source figures?

The sources section below links the Australia and Singapore government pages every figure on this page was verified against in July 2026.

This page is general information, not legal advice. We check figures annually and update them on a best-efforts basis, but employment rules change and we cannot promise everything here is current or complete. Before you act on it, confirm the detail with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Ministry of Manpower or your own adviser. Last reviewed July 2026.