Written Answer to PQ on Prorated Sick Leave for Employees on Probation

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1244 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON 8 SEPTEMBER 2026
QUESTION NO. 1930 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry has considered providing for prorated paid sick leave for employees who are still serving their probation period.

Answer:

Under the Employment Act, an employee’s sick leave entitlement depends on their length of service, rather than their probation period. Employees are entitled to paid outpatient sick leave and hospitalisation leave once they have served their employer for at least 3 months. From 3 months onwards, the employee’s entitlement scales with their duration of service. After 6 months of service, the employee will get their full paid annual sick leave entitlement.

This approach reflects our tripartite consensus that entitlements should be commensurate with the employment relationship as it develops, and is consistent with how other employment benefits such as annual leave are structured.

There are also employers who already exercise flexibility to grant paid sick leave during their probation period as part of good employment practices. MOM and our tripartite partners will continue to encourage this.