How must I apply for leave, and can it be refused?
- Under the model standing orders, leave cannot be claimed as a matter of right order 11(2).
- You apply at least seven days in advance order 11(3).
- If leave is refused or postponed, you must be told in writing with the reasons order 11(6).
The model standing orders are for industrial establishments with three hundred or more workers (IR Code s. 28(1)), and your employer's certified standing orders may differ. Elsewhere, check your appointment letter, and see what applies at a smaller workplace.
The citations are to the service sector's model. These points read the same for manufacturing (order 10) and mining (order 10).
Last checked 1 Nov 2026 · written from the official text · not reviewed by a lawyer. This explains the law in general and does not decide your case.