Sick Leave in the Maldives: When Is a Medical Certificate Required?

The useful distinction: 30 days does not mean 30 certificate-free days

Under the Maldives Employment Act, an employee is entitled to at least 30 days of paid sick leave during each year of employment. The Act also allows 15 of those 30 days to be used without a medical certificate, provided the absence does not exceed two consecutive days. For sick leave that requires proof, the certificate must identify the illness and recommended duration and be issued by a licensed medical practitioner.

That distinction is more useful than the common oversimplification “30 days sick leave, certificate required.”

A simple decision guide

One or two consecutive sick days? The Act allows part of the annual sick-leave entitlement to be used without a medical certificate, within the statutory conditions.

More than two consecutive days? Do not assume the certificate-free rule applies. Follow the medical-certificate requirement and your employer's notification process.

Used several short absences already? Keep a personal record because the 15-day certificate-free portion is not an unlimited annual allowance.

What should the certificate contain?

The Employment Act describes a medical certificate specifying the nature of the illness and the recommended duration of sick leave, issued by a licensed medical practitioner. That is more specific than simply uploading any appointment receipt or pharmacy document.

Employers can also have internal notification procedures, so the employee should report the absence according to workplace rules.

Example: a two-day absence

An employee who is sick on Monday and Tuesday may fall within the certificate-free rule if the statutory conditions are met and the employee still has part of the relevant 15-day allowance available. The employee should nevertheless follow the company's notification procedure.

If the employee remains absent on Wednesday, the absence is no longer a two-day consecutive period. At that point, the certificate requirement becomes important.

A message that works for a short absence

Subject: Sick Leave Notification

Dear [Supervisor],

I am unwell and will not be able to attend work today. I will keep you informed of my expected return and follow the applicable sick-leave procedure.

Regards,

[Name]

For longer absence, attach the medical certificate when required instead of relying on a generic note.

Why this page should also mention the law's status

The Labour Relations Authority consolidated the Employment Act with amendments, including the 2020 change that created the certificate-free treatment for up to 15 days annually within the two-consecutive-day condition. The consolidated English text is explicitly marked as an unofficial translation, with the Dhivehi text prevailing in case of conflict.

That source note helps readers understand where the rule comes from and makes clear that the English text is not the authoritative original.

Common questions

How much paid sick leave is available? At least 30 days during every year of employment.

Can I take all 30 days without a certificate? No. The certificate-free provision covers 15 of the 30 days and is limited by the two-consecutive-day condition.

Does this rule cover public and private employees? The Employment Act's general application covers state and private employment, subject to statutory exceptions, but specialised services can have separate rules.

Is the English PDF the original law? No. The consolidated English document identifies itself as an unofficial translation; the Dhivehi version prevails in case of conflict.

Sources

Primary source: Maldives Employment Act, Law No. 2/2008, consolidated with amendments by the Labour Relations Authority and updated to 21 September 2022; the President's Office also describes the 2020 sixth amendment to sick-leave certification.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information. Workplace contracts, regulations and special employment categories may provide different or additional procedures.