Committee passes amendments to Employment Act

The Employment Act Committee of the parliament has passed the amendments to the employment laws so that employees are entitled to 15 days of sick leave per year without submitting a medical certificate. 

Under the current Employment Act, employees are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave. Employers have the discretion to withhold sick leaves of more than two consecutive days if the employees do not produce a medical certificate.

The government-proposed bill presented by MP Easa initially made it so that employees will have to present medical certificates even if they undertake a single day of sick leave, sparking a massive outcry among the public.

After the outrage, MP Easa had stated back then that the bill would undergo changes during the Committee phase.

It was decided to amend the bill so that employees will be entitled to 15 days of paid sick leave without a medical certificate in addition to 15 days of paid sick leave with a medical certificate, said MP Easa.

With a number of amendments, the bill was passed by the Joint Committee formed by the Parliament's Economic Committee and Committee on Social Affairs. 

Changes brought now state that employees are entitled to 30 days of sick leave and employers have the discretion against providing sick leaves to employees if the employee does not produce a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner that stipulates the type of illness, and the duration of leave that is recommended to be taken when the employee reports back to work.

The amendment also states that employees are entitled to 15 days of sick leave without a medical certificate if the leaves are not taken on more than two consecutive days.

The Committee chair MP Easa proposed to present the Committee Report to the parliament tomorrow. It is yet to be placed on the agenda.