semesterrätten
Semesterrätten refers to the employee’s right to paid annual leave in Sweden. It is primarily defined in the Swedish Annual Leave Act (Semesterlagen) and supplemented by collective agreements and individual employment contracts. The core idea is that workers are entitled to time off from work with pay to rest and recover.
Under the law, a full-time employee typically accrues at least 25 vacation days per year, equivalent to
Holiday pay, or semesterlön, is paid during the vacation period. The calculation method can vary: it is
Acquisition and use of semesterrätten occur as employment continues, with unused days sometimes carried over to
Role of collective agreements and contracts: Many sectors provide more generous terms, different carryover rules, or