The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), confirmed that where sick leave period exceeds six months based on an official report issued by the competent medical committee, the committee may either grant the employee an extra period up to six months or recommend termination of his employment on medical grounds.
According to the Authority, employees are entitled to a fully paid sick leave for a period not exceeding one year in cases of work-related injury. After this period, employees will be referred to the medical committee, to assess their health status and either extend this period not exceeding an extra six months, or recommend termination on medical grounds, according to Pensions & Social Security Law.
The Authority’s statement showed that the sick leave period shall be considered as part of the employee’s service including end of service gratuity, pension and gross salary.
Concerning reasons for granting the sick leave, the Authority’s statement explained that the employee is granted sick leave if his health prevents him from performing his duties, or to ward off any health risks that threaten him and others according to a medical report from a certified medical authority. The employee shall inform his immediate supervisor about the sick leave once it is officially granted, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.