Can I take unpaid leave?
Only with the employer's consent — but they cannot force it on you either. Unpaid leave under art. 160 of the Labour Code is granted at the employee's request and with the employer's consent. The order must be in writing, because the consequences are serious: up to 30 working days of unpaid leave a year count towards employment and insurance service; beyond that limit they do not, meaning you lose pension service. The employer cannot compel you to take unpaid leave — and if they impose it without your consent, you have the right to terminate the contract without notice. Health insurance contributions during unpaid leave taken at your request are at your own expense.
📋 The rules
- Granted at your request and with the employer's consent
- The order must be in writing
- Up to 30 working days a year count as service
- Beyond 30 days — they do not count towards service
- Imposed without consent: you may leave without notice
🔓 Exceptions
- The employer cannot compel an employee to take unpaid leave
- Health contributions during unpaid leave at your request are at your own expense
- Unpaid leave is normally taken once the paid entitlement is exhausted
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The risk here is quiet and only shows up decades later — at retirement. Unpaid leave beyond 30 working days in a year does not count towards insurance service: a few months' "break" means a few months of missing service. Separately, if health contributions go unpaid, your rights lapse and appointments are not covered by the health fund. If the employer imposes unpaid leave without your consent — during a downturn in orders, say — that is a breach: you may terminate without notice and report it to the labour inspectorate. Insist on a written order: it is the evidence.
📎 Official sources
- lex.bg · Labour Code (art. 160) →
- General Labour Inspectorate →
- Social Security Institute · Insurance service →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I decide to take unpaid leave on my own?
No. Unpaid leave is granted at your request but with the employer's consent. Without that consent, absence is unauthorised, not leave.
Does it count towards service?
Up to 30 working days a year — yes, towards employment and insurance service. Beyond that limit it does not count and you lose pension service.
Can my employer force unpaid leave on me?
No. If unpaid leave is granted without your consent, you have the right to terminate the contract without notice and to report it to the labour inspectorate.
What happens to my health insurance?
During unpaid leave at your request the contributions are at your own expense. If they go unpaid, your health rights lapse and appointments are not covered.
Do I need a written order?
Yes. It is the evidence of the period and of the consent — and the exact number of days determines whether the time counts towards your service record.
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