WE REFER to last Saturday's letter by Singapore Medical Association president Chong Yeh Woei ('Change law to make firms accept MCs from any doctor'), as well as recent letters on the same issue.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) would like to reiterate that employers should recognise medical certificates issued by any registered medical practitioner for the purpose of being absent from work due to illness.
However, in order to take sick leave with pay, the Employment Act states that an employee needs to obtain a medical certificate from a company or government doctor.
This is only a minimum requirement, and does not stop an employer from recognising a medical certificate from any doctor.
Provisions on sick leave with pay are included in collective agreements or employees' contracts of service. In a survey conducted by MOM in 2009, three in four private establishments accepted medical certificates issued by all medical practitioners for the purpose of granting paid sick leave.
We thank Dr Chong for his views. We will take the views of all parties, including employees, trade unions and businesses, into account in future reviews of the Employment Act to ensure a balance between statutory obligations and business needs.
Farah Abdul Rahim (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Manpower
I think civil service does not accept MCs from sinsehs. Kind of stupid really.