There has been an important update to how leave is managed and paid out in the public service and it is already in effect.
On 20 February 2026, the Government of Lesotho published Legal Notice No. 14 of 2026, introducing amendments to the Public Service Regulations, 2008.
In simple terms, the rules around when (and if) public officers can be paid for unused leave have now changed.
So, what’s actually new?
The amendment replaces the old rules on payment in lieu of leave with a more controlled system.
Here are the key takeaways:
1. Leave payouts are now limited
Previously, employees could accumulate leave and expect to be paid out.
Now:
- You can only be paid for up to 50% of your accrued leave days at the end of a leave cycle
👉 In other words, you can’t “cash out” all your unused leave anymore.
2. You can’t just choose a payout instead of leave
This is one of the biggest shifts.
Payment in lieu of leave is now:
- Not automatic
- Only allowed if your Head of Department approves that you should not take leave
👉 So the default position is clear:
Take your leave, don’t bank it for cash.
3. There’s now an extra approval layer
Even if your department approves:
- The Ministry must still get authorisation from the Permanent Secretary before any payment is made
👉 This adds a level of financial control and accountability that didn’t exist before.
4. What happens if a public officer passes away?
The Regulations also clarify that:
- Any unused leave must still be paid out in the event of death
👉 This ensures that those benefits are not lost and can form part of the officer’s estate.
Why is government doing this?
From a policy perspective, this change is quite strategic.
It likely aims to:
- Reduce the financial burden of large leave payouts
- Prevent excessive leave accumulation
- Encourage employees to actually rest and take time off
What does this mean in practice?
For public servants:
- You’ll need to plan your leave better
- You can no longer rely on large leave payouts as a financial benefit
- Taking leave is now the norm, not the exception
For government departments:
- Stronger internal controls are required
- More approvals and record-keeping
- Greater focus on leave management systems
Final thought
This amendment is a clear shift in approach.
The message is simple:
👉 Leave is for rest, not for cash accumulation.
Public servants and departments alike should take note and ensure they are aligned with the new requirements.
How We Can Help
At Mayet & Associates., we assist with:
- Public sector and labour law compliance
- Internal HR policy updates
- Regulatory interpretation and advisory
If you need help navigating these changes, feel free to reach out.