Self-Employed and Unemployment: ARE Cumul Rules 2026
Can you claim unemployment as an auto-entrepreneur in 2026? ARE cumul rules, the 70% deduction, ARCE vs monthly ARE and the steps to protect your rights.
Blog
Paid Leave in Wage Portage: Rules, Calculation and Traps
Wage portage and simulation
Explore how it works and estimate your net income in a few clicks.
Summarize with
Pick a tool: it opens in a new tab with a prompt ready to summarize this page.
- Over 500 consultants
- Online activity account
- Zero Hidden Fees Label
Camille, a freelance developer in wage portage for eight months, wants two weeks off in August. Her question fits on one line: who pays for those days, and how much? Short answer first, then the details.
Paid leave in wage portage builds up at 2.5 working days per month of actual work, or 30 working days a year. You pick your dates and get the better of two amounts: your normal salary kept in place, or one tenth of your gross pay.
How many days of leave do you earn in wage portage?
A portage employee earns 2.5 working days of paid leave for every month actually worked, which adds up to 30 working days (five weeks) over a full year running from 1 June to 31 May. You can take these days right from the start of your contract, without waiting for the year to end.
A "working day" here means every day of the week except Sunday and public holidays. Taking a Friday afternoon off pushes Saturday into the count. New portage employees, used to the Monday to Friday count of a regular company, often get caught out. The principle comes from the French Labour Code (text on Légifrance) and is echoed in the collective agreement for wage portage.
| Months worked | Working days earned | Weeks of leave |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 2.5 | about 0.4 |
| 3 months | 7.5 | 1.25 |
| 6 months | 15 | 2.5 |
| 12 months | 30 | 5 |
Sick leave also counts toward leave rights since the law of 22 April 2024. Our guide to sick leave in wage portage covers the portage side, and the legal duration is summed up on service-public.fr. If you're still learning how wage portage works, remember this: you're an employee, so you get the same leave rights as anyone on a permanent contract.
How is paid leave pay calculated?
Paid leave pay equals the more favourable of two methods: the salary you'd have earned by working, or one tenth of your gross pay over the reference period. Your portage company must compare both and apply the better one.
Take Yanis, a data consultant on 4,000 euros gross a month. Over twelve months his reference pay reaches 48,000 euros. One tenth is 4,800 euros, or 160 euros per working day across 30 days. Keeping his salary in place comes to about 154 euros a day (4,000 divided by 26 average working days). The tenth wins here. After a mid-year raise, it could go the other way.
Even at the floor, the right exists. The monthly gross minimum wage (SMIC) stands at 1,823.03 euros since 1 January 2026, or 12.02 euros an hour (source: info.gouv.fr). Over a full year at that level, the tenth tops 2,180 euros. It's no bonus: it's pay you must build into your daily rate. To see the effect on your net income, the Weepo wage portage simulator gives a first estimate, and our article on how portage salary is calculated explains the mechanics.
The monthly 10% bonus: shortcut or trap?
Some portage companies pay a 10% allowance on your gross pay every month instead of tracking leave days. The practice exists, but it isn't neutral: it blurs your rights, can complicate access to unemployment benefits, and pushes some consultants to never switch off.
For the company, it's easy to run. For you, money lands every month, yet nobody sees the days piling up. The classic story? The bonus is spent by May, and in August there's no cushion left to take time off. Practices differ from one firm to another, and some consider this method at odds with the collective agreement. Reread your contract and payslips, then ask your account manager in writing. The answer tells you whether your days are really counted.
Keep the real cost of absences in mind too. A day off is a day without revenue, which is why our breakdown of wage portage costs is worth reading before you set a daily rate.
How do you book leave during an ongoing mission?
The portage employee chooses their leave dates, as long as they stay compatible with the client's mission. Neither the client nor the portage company decides for you, but a client who isn't warned in time may cut the mission short.
A few habits prevent bad surprises:
- Tell your client early, ideally several weeks before any absence longer than five days, and confirm it in writing.
- Log your days in your portage company's tool so your activity account stays up to date.
- Agree on a calendar at the start of the mission if you already know you'll be away at a specific time.
- Set aside a share of your revenue each month so you're not paying for holidays from an overdraft.
Family leave follows other rules, covered in our article on birth leave in wage portage.
What happens to unused leave when the contract ends?
Leave days not taken when the employment contract ends are paid out as a compensatory allowance with your final settlement. That sum is subject to contributions and can delay the start of your unemployment benefits.
The delay depends on the amount paid and your reference daily wage. In practice, fifteen unused days before a departure can mean a waiting period you could have avoided by taking those days before the mission ended. If you're planning an exit from portage, read our piece on wage portage and unemployment benefits. And for a check on your own situation, the Weepo homepage lets you reach the team.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take leave right from the start in wage portage?
Yes. Leave builds up month by month, but you can take it before the earning period ends. The only practical limit: your activity account must hold enough to fund the absence.
Who pays for a portage employee's leave?
The portage employee, through their activity account: part of what the client pays is set aside to cover the allowance. Your daily rate has to include that cost.
Is the client responsible for my leave?
No, the client isn't your employer. It doesn't pay for your leave or formally approve it, but it must be told, since the mission depends on you being there.
Is the monthly 10% bonus mandatory?
No. The calculation rule compares kept salary and one tenth of gross pay when you take leave. A monthly 10% payment is a company practice, so check your contract.
What if I fall ill during my leave?
It depends on the date of the sick note and the rights you've earned. See the sick leave guide mentioned above, and ask your account manager to confirm whether days can be carried over.
Key takeaways
- You earn 2.5 working days a month, or 30 working days a year, usable from day one.
- Leave pay uses the better of kept salary and one tenth of gross pay.
- A monthly 10% bonus isn't a requirement: read your contract.
- You choose your dates, but your client needs enough notice.
- Unused days are paid at contract end, with a possible effect on unemployment benefits.
Related articles
Author
Responsable Marketing & Communication chez Weepo, je suis passionnée par l'animation du réseau et l'accompagnement de nos consultants. J'organise des événements parisiens et accompagne nos équipes régionales pour créer des moments d'échange enrichissants dans l'écosystème du portage salarial.
More
Read next
Statement of Intent: Definition, Template and Freelance Tips
Statement of intent explained: definition, what to include, a ready-to-adapt template and a real example for freelancers. Write one page that wins clients.
Subcontracting Contract in France: Clauses and Rules
Subcontracting contract in France: definition, the 1975 law, clauses to include, payment terms and how it differs from a service contract. A freelancer guide.