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Most bosses accept MCs from any doctor

Employment practices
  • The Straits Times (13 July 2011) : Most bosses accept MCs from any doctor
  • The Straits Times (09 July 2011) : Change law to make firms accept MCs from any doctor
Most bosses accept MCs from any doctor
- The Straits times, 13 July 2011

We refer to the letter "Change law to make firms accept MCs from any doctor" (Jul 9) as well as recent letters on the same issue. The Ministry 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.

2.   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.

3.   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.
Change law to make firms accept MCs from any doctor
- The Straits Times, 09 July 2011

We refer to Dr Yik Keng Yeong's letter ('Simple ways to cut polyclinic queues'; June 29) and the Ministry of Health's response on Thursday ('Ministry urges bosses to accept MCs from any doctor').

The Singapore Medical Association (SMA) supports the ministry's call to employers to recognise medical certificates (MCs) issued by a registered medical practitioner regardless of whether he is in public or private practice.

While there are employers who recognise MCs issued by any registered medical practitioner, many companies continue to insist that employees are entitled to paid sick leave only when their MCs are certified by a company or government doctor.
MCs from a doctor in private practice may be accepted at the employer's discretion.

As employees should be allowed to consult a doctor in the vicinity of where they live and as medical resources in polyclinics and hospitals can be better employed, the Employment Act should be reviewed and amended to recognise MCs issued by registered medical practitioners.