European UnionMy employer won't give me more than 3 weeks annual leave. What's the EU minimum?
The EU minimum annual leave is 4 weeks (20 working days) per year, guaranteed by the Working Time Directive.
What the Law Says
The minimum annual leave entitlement for workers in the European Union is set out in EU legislation that all Member States must implement into national law.
The EU Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) establishes core rights for workers, including a minimum entitlement to paid annual leave. This is a mandatory minimum — national laws may provide more, but not less.
The Directive applies to all workers in the EU, regardless of contract type (full-time, part-time, temporary), and cannot be waived by individual agreement or collective bargaining in a way that reduces the minimum.
Employers must ensure workers can actually take their full leave entitlement — it cannot be replaced by payment in lieu except on termination of employment.
Statutory TextEvery worker is entitled to paid annual leave of at least four weeks.
— Directive 2003/88/EC, Art. 7(1) — Annual leave
What Courts Have Said
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has repeatedly confirmed that the 4-week minimum is an essential, non-derogable right.
The CJEU ruled that the right to paid annual leave under Article 7 is a particularly important principle of EU social law and cannot be forfeited simply because a worker was on sick leave during the reference period.
The Court held that carry-over of unused leave is required where a worker was unable to take it due to circumstances beyond their control — the 4-week minimum must be preserved.
What to Do
Check your national law — most EU countries provide more than 4 weeks (e.g., 5–6 weeks in Germany, France, Sweden).
Raise the issue with your employer in writing, citing Directive 2003/88/EC, Article 7(1).
Contact your national labour inspectorate or workers’ representative body (e.g., trade union) for support.
If unresolved, you may file a claim with your national court — EU law gives you direct rights enforceable against employers.
Sources
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JapanNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.