How many holidays domestic workers get
The Italian contract for domestic work grants 26 working days of paid holiday a year, calculated on a six-day week (Monday to Saturday): the equivalent of one calendar month. Holidays accrue in twelfths, i.e. 26 ÷ 12 = 2.17 days for each month of work; a month counts if the employment lasted at least 15 days. They must be taken, normally between June and September and in no more than two periods, and cannot be paid in lieu while the employment lasts: only the days not taken at the end of employment are paid out.
Hourly workers: holidays in hours
For part-time and hourly workers holidays are expressed in hours: weekly hours × 26 ÷ 6 (i.e. weekly hours × 4.33) in a full year. With 20 hours a week that is 86.67 hours a year, 7.22 a month; with 6 hours a week, 26 hours a year. Each hour of holiday is paid at the normal hourly rate.
Workers paid by the day or month
With a six-day week the entitlement is 26 days; with fewer days a week it is proportional (5 days → 21.67; 3 days → 13). For live-in workers each day of holiday is worth 1/26 of the monthly pay, board and lodging allowance included, which is also due during holidays.
How to use the calculator
- Holidays accrued so far: period from 1 January (or from hiring) to today.
- Balance: enter the holidays already taken in the same period.
- Final settlement: period up to the last day of work; the value of the holidays left goes on the final payslip together with the 13th month and the TFR.
The reference contract
The rules applied are those of the Italian national collective agreement for domestic work (CCNL lavoro domestico: housekeepers, carers, babysitters), which covers every regular domestic employment in Italy. Amounts are gross: INPS social contributions (including the worker's share) and taxes are separate. This calculator is meant for a quick estimate; for the official payslip and special cases (vertical part-time, changes of hours during the year, long absences) ask an employers' association, a labour consultant or a payroll service.
Frequently asked questions
How many holiday days does a domestic worker accrue in a month?
2.17 days (26 ÷ 12) on a six-day week; for hourly workers, weekly hours × 26 ÷ 6 ÷ 12 hours per month.
Can untaken holidays be paid instead?
Only at the end of the employment. During the employment they must be taken: the contract forbids replacing them with money.
Is a live-in carer entitled to board and lodging during holidays?
Yes: holiday pay also includes the board and lodging allowance if the worker doesn't use them.