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Leave Policy in Andhra Pradesh: Holidays & Work Hours 2026

Written by
Aditya Nagpal
9
min read
Published on
February 1, 2026
Workplace and Legal Compliance
TL;DR

This article explains the leave, holiday, and working-hour requirements under the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. It covers statutory leave entitlements, optional employer benefits, public holidays in Andhra Pradesh for 2026, and key policy rules employers must follow. It also highlights common compliance mistakes and how businesses can validate their leave policy using Wisemonk’s leave and holiday policy calculator.

Andhra Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act[toc=Shops & Establishments Act]

The Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act governs leave and working conditions for most private offices, shops, and commercial establishments operating in the state. It forms the legal baseline for employee leave, holidays, and related employer obligations.

For employers, this means leave policies must align with state-specific rules and record-keeping requirements. Applicability is based on where employees work, including hybrid or remote roles linked to Andhra Pradesh.

About Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is a key employment state for manufacturing, services, and growing IT hubs. Most private offices and commercial establishments here are governed by the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, which sets state-specific rules for leave, holidays, and working hours. Employers hiring employees based in Andhra Pradesh must follow these local regulations in addition to applicable central labour laws.

What are the statutory leave entitlements in Andhra Pradesh?[toc=Statutory Leave Entitlements]

Statutory leave entitlements in Andhra Pradesh define the minimum paid leave employers must provide under the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act and the Maternity Benefit Act. These rules determine eligibility, accrual timelines, and carry-forward limits that directly impact payroll accuracy and compliance.

With our hands-on experience supporting companies with India payroll and employment compliance, here are the statutory leave entitlements applicable in Andhra Pradesh.

Statutory Leave Entitlements in Andhra Pradesh
Leave Type Entitlement
Earned / Privileged Leave (EL) 15 working days per year after 240 days of continuous service
Casual Leave (CL) 12 working days per year
Sick Leave (SL) 12 working days per year
Maternity Leave 26 weeks for the first two children and 12 weeks for subsequent children, as per the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
Adoptive / Commissioning Mother Leave 12 weeks for eligible adoptive or commissioning mothers
Carry Forward of Earned Leave Up to 60 days of unused earned leave can be carried forward

Use the Andhra Pradesh Leave Policy Compliance Tool

Before locking your leave policy or payroll rules, it’s important to validate whether your earned leave, sick leave, holidays, and working-hour setup actually align with the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act.

Generate a state-specific holiday and leave policy for India in minutes, aligned with local labor laws and your team’s work setup.

Use our Holiday & State-Wise Leave Policy Tool to check statutory leave entitlements, state-notified holidays, and accrual rules based on employee work location, so you avoid policy gaps and payroll mismatches.

Now that we’ve covered statutory leave entitlements in Andhra Pradesh, the next section looks at optional leave benefits employers commonly offer beyond legal requirements.

What optional leave benefits do employers offer in Andhra Pradesh?[toc=Optional Leave Benefits]

Optional leave benefits are not legally mandated in Andhra Pradesh but are widely used by employers to improve employee well-being, retention, and workplace flexibility. These benefits are defined through internal company policies rather than state legislation.

Based on our experience helping companies design compliant yet competitive leave policies, here are the optional leave benefits typically offered in Andhra Pradesh.

Optional / Employer-Specific Leave Benefits in Andhra Pradesh
Leave Type Typical Entitlement
Paternity Leave Optional 5 working days for birth or adoption of a child
Marriage Leave Optional 5 working days, usually once during employment
Bereavement / Compassionate Leave Optional 3 working days for the death of an immediate family member
Optional / Cultural Holidays Optional 1–2 days per year
Leave Without Pay (LWP) Allowed when paid leave is exhausted, subject to approval

Note: While these benefits are not statutory, offering them is common among structured employers and often improves employee satisfaction and retention.

Having reviewed optional leave benefits, the next section outlines key policy rules employers must keep in mind while implementing leave in Andhra Pradesh.

What key policy rules should employers know about leave in Andhra Pradesh?[toc=Key Policy Rules]

Leave policies in Andhra Pradesh must align with statutory minimums while clearly defining approval workflows, accrual rules, and exit handling. Employers must ensure leave records are properly documented and consistently applied across the workforce.

Drawing from our experience managing HR operations and audits for India-based teams, these are the key policy rules employers should be aware of in Andhra Pradesh.

Key Policy Notes – Andhra Pradesh

Maternity Leave: Mandatory for eligible women under the Maternity Benefit Act, providing paid leave for the prescribed duration.

Leave Encashment: Not statutory. Employers may offer encashment of unused Earned Leave at exit as a policy decision.

Leave Without Pay: Can be granted only after paid leave balances are exhausted and requires HR or manager approval with proper documentation.

With policy rules clarified, the next section explains how employees and employers should interpret leave benefits in day-to-day practice.

How should employees and employers interpret leave benefits in Andhra Pradesh?[toc=Understand Leave Benefits]

Understanding leave benefits in Andhra Pradesh requires distinguishing between statutory rights and employer-enhanced benefits. Clear interpretation helps employees plan time off effectively and ensures employers remain compliant with labor regulations.

With our experience supporting employee lifecycle management in India, here’s how leave benefits should be interpreted in Andhra Pradesh.

Statutory Rights: Employees are legally entitled to Earned Leave, Casual Leave, Sick Leave, and Maternity Leave as prescribed under law.

Enhanced Benefits: Employers may offer additional leave such as paternity, marriage, or bereavement leave to support work-life balance.

Best Practices: Review eligibility based on tenure, plan leave in advance, track balances regularly, and communicate clearly with managers and HR.

With leave interpretation covered, the next section lists public holidays officially observed in Andhra Pradesh.

Which public holidays apply in Andhra Pradesh?[toc=Public Holidays]

Public holidays in Andhra Pradesh include national, cultural, and religious observances recognized across the state. Employers must ensure these holidays are correctly reflected in leave policies and payroll calendars.

Based on our experience handling multi-state holiday compliance, below are the public holidays applicable in Andhra Pradesh.

Public Holidays in Andhra Pradesh (2026)
Date Occasion
14-Jan Sankranti / Pongal
26-Jan Republic Day
15-Feb Maha Shivratri
03-Mar Holi
20-Mar Ugadi
21-Mar Id-ul-Fitr
27-Mar Ram Navami
27-May Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha)
15-Aug Independence Day
02-Oct Gandhi Jayanti

Be sure to check out our detailed guide on “India Holidays 2026: A Complete Guide to Public Holidays” to understand national, state, and optional holidays employers should account for when building compliant leave policies.

Now that public holidays are covered, the final section explains working hours and weekly rest rules in Andhra Pradesh.

What are the working hour and weekly rest rules in Andhra Pradesh?[toc=Working Hours]

Working hour regulations in Andhra Pradesh set limits on daily work, rest intervals, overtime, and spread-over hours to protect employee health and ensure lawful operations.

With our experience managing attendance, overtime, and payroll compliance, here are the working hour rules applicable in Andhra Pradesh.

Working Hours for Shops and Establishments in Andhra Pradesh
Rule Requirement
Normal Working Hours 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week
Interval for Rest At least 1 hour after 5 hours of continuous work
Maximum Overtime 6 hours in a week
Spread-over Hours Maximum of 12 hours in a day
Rate of Overtime Wages Twice the ordinary rate of wages

This completes the overview of leave, holidays, and working hour regulations applicable in Andhra Pradesh under the Shops and Establishments framework.

How does Wisemonk simplify leave, holiday, and working hour compliance in India?[toc=How Wisemonk Helps]

Wisemonk is an Employer of Record (EOR) in India that helps global companies hire, pay, and manage employees without setting up a local entity. By taking full ownership of state-wise labor law interpretation, policy design, and ongoing execution, we currently manage 2,000+ employees across multiple industries and Indian states.

Here’s how we help:

  • India’s State-Specific Holiday & Leave Policy Tool: We handle state-wise leave rules and mandatory holidays automatically, so your policies stay compliant without manual tracking.
  • State-compliant leave and working hour policies: We design and maintain leave, holiday, and working hour frameworks aligned with the exact laws of each employee’s work location.
  • Payroll-linked leave and attendance management: We ensure leave accruals, encashments, overtime, and final settlements are calculated accurately and reflected correctly in payroll.
  • Multi-state compliance execution: We manage compliance differences across Indian states, helping you scale teams without risking policy or payroll mismatches.
  • End-to-end employer compliance ownership: We handle statutory records, inspections, and ongoing labor law updates, so your team stays protected as regulations evolve.

Want to simplify compliance across Indian states? Book a free consultation and see how Wisemonk keeps your workforce compliant from day one.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use Wisemonk’s leave and holiday policy calculator for Andhra Pradesh?

Enter the employee’s work location as Andhra Pradesh, select whether the coverage is under Shops and Establishments or Factories, define the leave year, and add date of joining and work pattern. The calculator applies Andhra Pradesh–specific earned, sick, and casual leave rules and maps applicable state holidays accurately.

What happens to leave for mid-year joiners or exits in Andhra Pradesh?

Leave is generally prorated based on actual days worked. Earned leave becomes a statutory entitlement only after completing 240 days of work in a continuous 12-month period. On exit, eligible unused earned leave must be settled as wages, depending on the reason for separation.

Can companies offer more leave than the Andhra Pradesh statutory minimum?

Yes. Andhra Pradesh law sets minimum leave entitlements, not maximum limits. Employers are free to offer higher earned leave, additional sick leave, or extra holidays. Any enhanced leave must be clearly documented in the policy and applied consistently to avoid disputes or compliance issues.

How should leave balances appear on payroll records in Andhra Pradesh?

Payroll records should clearly reflect opening leave balance, leave accrued, leave availed, leave encashed, and closing balance. These figures must align with the statutory leave register maintained under Andhra Pradesh rules and be updated regularly to ensure audit and inspection readiness.

What are common leave policy compliance mistakes in Andhra Pradesh?

Frequent mistakes include ignoring the 240-day threshold for earned leave eligibility, misclassifying sick and casual leave, failing to grant compensatory holidays for work on notified holidays, and not recording leave correctly in statutory registers linked to payroll.

Does Andhra Pradesh follow central or state-specific leave rules?

Leave rules are primarily governed by Andhra Pradesh’s state-specific Shops and Establishments legislation for commercial establishments. Central laws apply only in specific cases, such as factories. Employers must identify the correct legal framework based on the nature of the establishment.

How often should leave policies be updated in Andhra Pradesh?

Leave policies should be reviewed at least once every year and immediately after any change in state notifications or labor law amendments. Andhra Pradesh holiday lists and enforcement practices can change, so regular updates are essential to remain compliant.

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