Unpaid leave may be granted to the employee on request in the following cases:

• to raise one or more dependent children under 15;
  • for duly substantiated personal, family or professional reasons.

The unpaid leave referred to in article 19.1 must be requested and granted in instalments of six calendar months, and in any event in a single request for the whole period for which it is desired. Save in exceptional circumstances, it may not end before its term, nor be renewed.

This unpaid leave must be requested by registered letter to the employer no later than two months before its start date.

The period of unpaid leave referred to in this article does not count towards advancements, nor towards annual and compensatory leave.