Sick leave

Sick leave entitlement in Singapore is governed by the Employment Act and varies based on length of service. Employees who have worked for their employer for six months or more are entitled to 14 days of paid outpatient sick leave per year and 60 days of paid hospitalisation leave. For employees with shorter tenure, entitlements are pro-rated. Those employed for more than three months but less than six months receive a proportional allocation of sick leave based on their service period. Employees with less than three months of service typically have no statutory sick leave entitlement unless their employment contract specifies otherwise.

The Employment Act, administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), establishes these minimum standards. Employers may provide more generous sick leave policies, but cannot offer less than the statutory minimum. Sick leave must be taken for legitimate medical reasons, and employers may require medical certification for absences exceeding two consecutive days or for patterns of absence.

Employers must maintain accurate records of sick leave taken and balance remaining. Unused sick leave does not carry over to the following year unless the employment contract permits it. Upon termination, employers are not required to pay out unused sick leave unless the contract specifies otherwise.

Payroll teams must ensure compliance by tracking service dates precisely to calculate correct pro-rated entitlements, particularly for employees in their first six months. Medical certification requirements should be clearly communicated in employment contracts and staff handbooks. Non-compliance with sick leave obligations can result in Ministry of Manpower investigations and potential penalties.