Coronavirus infected employees in UAE to be granted sick leave

An employee who has completed over three months of work after their probation period is over, can get a sick leave for not more than 90 days for every year, a report said, citing the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. (File/AFP)

• The ministry warned companies to not terminate the service of any employee who had tested positive for coronavirus

DUBAI: Employees infected with coronavirus in the UAE will be given sick leave in accordance with Federal Law No. 8 of 1980, state news agency WAM reported.
An employee who has completed over three months of work after their probation period is over, can get a sick leave for not more than 90 days for every year, the report said, citing the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
They should also get paid a full salary for the first 15 days, half salary for another 30 days, and no salary for the remaining 45 days, it added.
The ministry also warned companies to not terminate the service of any employee who had tested positive for coronavirus, and would take care of termination complaints involving such cases.
If the complaint does not get resolved in a friendly way, it will then be passed on to the court to determine whether it is considered a lawful termination or an arbitrary dismissal, the ministry said.
“Private sector establishments’ commitment to paying wages on time, documenting leaves especially early leaves and amending contracts that include the temporary or permanent reduction of wages under an agreement between the two parties concerned is essential to protecting the rights of all parties. The Ministry considers the value of wages mentioned in the WPS to reflect contracts signed by the concerned parties,” it added.