Sick Leave in Mauritius: 15 Paid Days, Medical Certificates and the First Six Months

The rule has an important two-stage pattern

Under the Mauritius Workers' Rights Act 2019, a full-time worker who completes 12 consecutive months with the same employer becomes entitled, during each subsequent 12-month period, to 15 working days of sick leave on full pay. The Act also provides an accrual route for workers who have completed six consecutive months and were present on all working days during that period: one day of sick leave for each subsequent month up to the twelfth month.

That makes the first year different from the later annual entitlement.

Medical certificate rule

A worker who is absent because of illness should notify the employer on the first day of absence, unless reasonable cause or the statutory exception applies. When the illness continues for more than three consecutive working days, a medical certificate must be forwarded on the fourth day of absence. A hospitalised worker has a different timing rule linked to discharge.

The Act also says a certificate cannot normally be valid for a period more than three days before the date it was issued.

A practical timeline

Day 1: notify the employer. Day 2–3: continue following the workplace absence procedure. Day 4 onward: if the illness has continued beyond three consecutive working days, provide the medical certificate required by section 46.

This is a much better answer to the search query than simply saying “15 sick days.”

What happens if you have less than a year of service?

Do not assume the full 15-day annual entitlement is already available. Section 46 creates an accrual mechanism during the first year for a worker who has completed six consecutive months and met the attendance condition. Once the 12-month threshold is completed, the subsequent annual entitlement is 15 working days on full pay.

A notification that keeps the record clean

Subject: Illness and Sick Leave Notification

Dear [Employer/HR],

I am unwell and will be absent from work from [date]. I am notifying you on the first day of absence and will provide the medical certificate required if the absence continues beyond the statutory threshold.

Regards,

[Name]

The sentence about the certificate is useful because it reflects the law's timing without claiming that a certificate is required on every first day.

An overlooked benefit: healthcare-related family leave

Mauritius also has a separate provision allowing a worker to use paid leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent or spouse who has healthcare-related issues, subject to the conditions in section 47A. That can be relevant when the employee is healthy but needs to care for someone else.

This is a useful internal-link opportunity to related family-leave content rather than forcing every absence into the sick-leave page.

Common questions

How many paid sick days are provided? After the relevant 12-month continuous-employment threshold, 15 working days of sick leave on full pay are provided for each subsequent 12-month period, subject to the statutory provisions.

When is a medical certificate required? If the worker remains ill for more than three consecutive working days, the certificate is due on the fourth day of absence, subject to the Act's hospital rule.

Should I tell my employer on the first day? Yes, the Act requires notification on the first day of absence unless reasonable cause or the statutory exception applies.

Does sick leave start with a full 15 days on day one of employment? No. The first-year accrual and eligibility rules matter.

Official review note

The Mauritius Ministry of Labour publishes a consolidated version of the Workers' Rights Act 2019 as at 9 August 2025. The government page notes that the internet version is for information and that the Government Gazette is authoritative.

Disclaimer: This is general employment information, not legal advice. Collective agreements, other enactments and sector-specific rules can affect leave.