Sick Leave

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-09

Income

An employee is entitled, after completing twelve months’ continuous service, to at least four weeks’ sick leave on full pay and eight weeks sick leave on half pay during each year. During sick leave, an employee is paid the normal wages.

An employer will not be bound to grant sick leave unless the employee produces a certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating the nature of the employee’s incapacity.

Source: §46 of the Employment Act (No. 6 of 2000), last amended in 2021; ISSA Country Profile 2017

Medical Care

No provisions on free medical care for sick workers could be identified within the law. The public health system provides some free medical services in government health centers and hospitals, including immunizations and treatments for tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Job Security

The employer cannot terminate an employees’ service during his/her temporary absence from work because of sickness or injury. However, the law has not specified the duration of this temporary absence from work because of sickness or injury. The minimum duration is at least 12 weeks as specified in the Employment Act.

Source: §46 & 58 of the Employment Act (No. 6 of 2000), last amended in 2021

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