Employees in Singapore are eligible for paid sick leave for COVID-19 related conditions and quarantine

Minister Tan See Leng noted that in the past 12 months, Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) managed eight sick leave claims relating to COVID-19. 

Minister for Manpower, Dr Tan See Leng, has reminded employers in Singapore that employees are legally entitled to paid sick leave if they are medically certified to be unfit for work or are under quarantine.

This includes paid sick leave for COVID-19 related conditions and procedures, such as quarantine orders and severe side effects from vaccination.

He shared this as a written response to a Parliamentary question by MP Mariam Jaafar on whether there have been complaints from employees who have been denied of this worker right. 

Minister Tan noted that in the past 12 months, Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) managed eight sick leave claims relating to COVID-19. All of these cases were resolved with the employers accepting the claims and making good on the payment following mediation by TADM.

He did say that, despite the COVID-19 disruptions, employers have generally been responsible and supportive of their employees in the provision of sick leave.

He shared: "Some employers have exercised flexibility and compassion to provide additional paid sick leave to employees who have exhausted their leave entitlements. Others have allowed employees to count COVID-related medical certificates towards hospitalisation rather than outpatient sick leave quotas."

While encouraging employers to continue to be flexible in supporting employees’ needs, he also urged employees who are denied their contractual or statutory sick leave entitlements to approach the Ministry or TADM for assistance.

Image / 123RF

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