Eligible employees covered by the Employment Act can receive up to 14 days of paid outpatient sick leave and 60 days of paid hospitalisation leave a year after six months of service. The 60-day total includes outpatient sick leave; it is not an extra 60 days. Lower limits apply after three to five months of service.
Your MC dates and your paid leave balance answer different questions. The certificate records medically assessed leave, while your entitlement also depends on eligibility, completed service, your remaining balance and the days you were scheduled to work. Use the table below to check the distinction before submitting your leave.
How many days of sick leave do you get in Singapore?
Statutory paid sick leave starts after three months of service, subject to Employment Act coverage, medical certification and notification requirements. The allowance rises at the following milestones. These are entitlement limits, not a recommended MC duration.
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Completed service | Outpatient days | Hospitalisation days, including outpatient |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 5 | 15 |
| 4 months | 8 | 30 |
| 5 months | 11 | 45 |
| 6 months or more | 14 | 60 |
Is hospitalisation leave an extra 60 days?
No. For someone with full entitlement who has already used 10 outpatient days, the remaining hospitalisation allowance is at most 50 days. Hospitalisation leave also needs its own qualifying circumstances and certification; it does not simply replace an exhausted outpatient balance.
MOM includes inpatient care, day surgery and qualifying recovery or bed rest certified by a practitioner who can admit patients to hospital. Being away from work for several days does not, by itself, establish hospitalisation-leave eligibility. Ask the treating team if the certificate type is unclear.
Can you take paid sick leave during probation?
Yes, if you qualify. MOM ties entitlement to service length and Employment Act coverage, rather than the date you pass probation. A six-month probation does not mean you must wait six months for any statutory paid sick leave.
Before three months, check whether your employer offers an earlier benefit. When contacting HR, give your start date and ask for the applicable allowance and remaining balance. That is more useful than asking only whether probation staff can take MC.
Do weekends and public holidays count as sick leave?
MOM excludes rest days, public holidays and other non-working days from paid sick-leave claims. Check your actual roster: a Saturday may be a working day for one employee and a non-working day for another. Sick leave on a scheduled half working day counts as one day.
For example, an MC covering Friday to Sunday need not deduct three days if only Friday is a working day for you. Keep the certificate intact; ask HR to reconcile the leave entry with your roster instead of asking the clinic to change medically appropriate dates.
If you become unwell during annual leave, discuss with your employer whether it can be cancelled and replaced with sick leave. The change is not automatic.
Sources: MOM: sick leave on non-working days and during notice
What should you do when you cannot attend work?
Inform or try to inform your employer within 48 hours of the absence. MOM distinguishes that notification from handing in the certificate: its guidance allows MC submission on return to work. Follow the company’s reporting channel and notify early where possible.
A useful record has three parts: the message notifying work, the original MC, and the leave entry. If something does not match, identify the specific date or balance in question so the clinic or HR can address it.
Does an online MC count, and is the consultation reimbursed?
Under the Employment Act, qualifying MCs from practitioners registered under the Medical Registration Act or Dental Registration Act must be recognised, including those issued through teleconsultation. The doctor still decides whether an MC is medically appropriate.
Consultation reimbursement is separate. After at least three months of service, the statutory requirement applies when a consultation leads to at least one day of paid sick leave and the MC comes from a public-institution or company-appointed practitioner. Company benefits may cover more. Check the policy before assuming every private consultation is reimbursable.
Sources: MOM: recognition of teleconsultation MCs; MOM: consultation-fee reimbursement and sick-leave salary; HealthHub / MOH: using telemedicine safely
Sources & editorial note
- MOM: sick-leave eligibility and entitlement
- MOM: paid sick leave during probation
- MOM: sick leave on non-working days and during notice
- MOM: notifying your employer and submitting an MC
- MOM: recognition of teleconsultation MCs
- MOM: consultation-fee reimbursement and sick-leave salary
- HealthHub / MOH: using telemedicine safely
Sources checked on 1 October 2026. This original guide provides general information. It does not replace a consultation. Follow your clinician’s advice for your situation.
