Leave & Absence
Every type of leave available to Gambian civil servants — annual leave (15–25 days by grade), maternity leave (6 months full pay), paternity leave (10 days), sick leave (escalating from full pay to half pay), study leave, special leave, and leave of absence (without pay up to 4 years). Covers entitlements, carry-forward rules, forfeiture, and procedures.
Chapter 4 of the General Orders is the primary leave instrument. GO 04101 defines all leave types: annual leave (with full salary), the leave year (12 calendar months from January 1), maternity, paternity, study leave, sick leave, leave of absence (without pay), and 'supervisor' as delegated authority. A working day is Monday–Thursday excluding gazetted public holidays. GO 04102 requires all officers to take annual leave each year — failure results in forfeiture unless deferment is justified by Heads of Departments. Departments must maintain and strictly adhere to Annual Leave Rosters. GO 04103 establishes that sick leave counts as duty for leave-earning purposes, but study leave and maternity leave do not. Annual leave entitlements (GO 04105): Grades 10+ get 25 working days, Grades 7–9 get 22 days, Grades 3–6 get 20 days, Grades 1–2 get 15 days. Officers may carry forward up to 5 days with supervisor permission; excess is forfeited (GO 04106). Up to 5 days may be taken in advance (GO 04107). Emergency special leave of up to 7 working days with pay may be granted, deducted from annual entitlement (GO 04108). Maternity leave: 6 months with full salary, commencing one month before expected confinement (GO 04112). Paternity leave: 10 working days with full salary, not counting against annual leave (GO 04113). Sick leave: first month on full pay, second month may be authorised, then referral to Director of Health Services for Medical Board (GO 04114). After 6 months' aggregate sick leave in 12 months, further leave is on half pay; maximum 12 months in any 4 years (GO 04115). TB cases: 9 months full pay and 12 months half pay (GO 04115). Leave of absence: up to 1 year, renewable to a maximum of 4 years total (GO 04119). Failure to return after leave results in unpaid leave status and possible disciplinary action (GO 04111).
Chapter 8 of the PPM provides the operational procedures for leave management. It details the process for applying for each leave type, the approval chain (immediate supervisor → Head of Department → PS), record-keeping requirements, and handling of special circumstances such as falling ill during annual leave. It mirrors the entitlements in the General Orders and adds procedural specifics for departmental HR sections on monitoring leave balances, ensuring roster compliance, and managing carry-forward requests.