RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL LEAVE FOR DELIVERY OF THIRD CHILD

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Manpower whether medical leave, given for medical conditions or complications arising from or even directly related to the delivery of a third child, is recognised and if it is not, the rationale and justification for this.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Medical leave granted by doctors is recognised for the purpose of enabling an employee to justify his absence from work and to be paid for the period of absence. It is not meant to grant additional payment to an employee if he is already on paid leave such as paid annual leave or any public holiday. It is also not intended to enable an employee to claim for salary on the day or days when he or she is on no pay leave or on a rest day. Hence, a female employee who is granted medical leave while on no-pay maternity leave will not be entitled to paid leave during the period of medical leave. This is clearly spelled out in section 44(4A) of the Employment Act.