Eligibility for sick leave – paid and unpaid
The worker may obtain sick leave for a period of 90 consecutive or intermittent days for each year of his service after the period of trial work. The leave is calculated as follows:
- Calculating the full wage for the first (15) days
- Half the wage for the following (30) days
- The period that follows that (45) days will be without pay .
Although the worker is not entitled to paid sick leave during the trial period, the employer may nevertheless grant him unpaid sick leave, based on a medical report issued by the medical authority that includes the necessity of granting the leave .
Note : What is meant by sick leave here is leave that does not result from work-related injuries. Injuries resulting from work-related injuries are subject to their own laws and provisions.
On the other hand, the worker does not receive paid sick leave in the following cases:
- During the work experience period
- If the illness resulted directly from his misconduct, such as his abuse of alcohol or drugs
- In the event that the worker violates safety instructions in accordance with applicable legislation and the company’s rules and regulations of which the worker has been informed.
Notifying the employer of sick leave
In accordance with Article 31According to the UAE Labor Law , the employee must inform the employer of his illness within a maximum period of three (3) days, and submit a medical report issued by the relevant health authority.
Is it permissible to dismiss a worker from service due to illness?
The employer may not dismiss the worker or warn him of his dismissal while he is enjoying his leave stipulated in the Labor Law.
However, the employer may terminate the worker’s service after he has exhausted his stipulated sick leave (90 days) if he is unable to return to work during it. In this case, the worker shall receive all his financial dues in accordance with the provisions of this decree law and its executive regulations.