The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has amended its regulations to grant civil servants a new 30-day “Special Leave for Health Needs” allowing employees to support immediate family members or dependents undergoing long-term medical treatment.
Under the 13th amendment to the Civil Service Regulations, staff are now entitled to an annual 30-day leave with basic pay if their mother, father, spouse, child, full or half-sibling, or a person under their legal guardianship requires permanent or long-term treatment.
To qualify, employees must submit a medical certificate from a health professional registered with the Ministry of Health or from an authorized health center abroad. The certificate must confirm the nature of the illness and specify the expected treatment duration. The CSC will grant approval based on its assessment of the documents submitted.
This amendment builds on existing provisions under Article 188 (a), which outline the procedures for granting sick leave when an employee is unable to attend work due to illness. Sick leave continues to be calculated on an annual basis and can be taken even before completing a full year of employment.
Alongside the new leave provision, the CSC also introduced changes concerning employee termination. An employee may now be dismissed if deemed permanently or long-term incapacitated due to health reasons. Such incapacity must be certified by a registered health professional and officially validated by the issuing institution.
The amendment reflects the government’s broader commitment to safeguarding employee welfare while ensuring a fair balance between work responsibilities and family health needs.
