Your Guide to Sick Leave Duration, Pay, and Procedures in the Private Sector

Sick leave in Egyptian labor law is one of the most important rights that employees and employers need to understand clearly, because it relates to the employee’s health, work continuity inside the organization, and how salary or wage compensation is calculated during illness.

With the issuance of Egyptian Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, it has become important to review the rules governing sick leave, approved medical reports, and wage compensation, especially in the private sector and establishments subject to labor law provisions.

In this guide, we explain when an employee is entitled to sick leave, what procedures are required, how pay or compensation may be calculated, and when the employer may request verification of the medical condition or regulate the notification process inside the establishment.

What Is Sick Leave?

Sick leave is a period granted to an employee when illness or injury prevents them from performing their work, based on a medical report or a competent medical authority. Its purpose is to protect the employee’s health while also regulating the employment relationship so that absence does not become a dispute between the employee and employer.

It is not enough for the employee to simply decide that they are sick without notification or medical proof. The employee should follow the established procedures inside the organization and submit evidence of the medical condition according to the competent authority or the internal work regulations.

When Is an Employee Entitled to Sick Leave?

An employee is entitled to sick leave when illness or injury is proven and prevents them from performing their work, according to an approved medical report from the competent authority. The medical condition must be real and affect the employee’s ability to perform their duties.

The method of proving illness may differ depending on the establishment, health insurance system, medical examination authority, and human resources policy adopted at the workplace, provided that these policies do not violate the applicable legal rules.

Is Sick Leave Paid?

In principle, an employee whose illness is proven is entitled to sick leave with wage compensation according to the provisions of social insurance and pension law. This means that the financial payment during illness may not always be treated in the same way as the regular monthly salary, but may fall under sickness wage compensation.

In some cases, especially in industrial establishments subject to specific provisions, the sick employee may be entitled to defined periods with full pay or a percentage of pay according to the law and approved medical reports.

Sick Leave Duration in Egyptian Labor Law

Sick leave duration is not treated as one fixed number for all cases. It depends on the nature of the illness, the medical authority’s report, the type of establishment, and the possibility of the employee’s recovery and return to work.

According to the published information on the new labor law, an employee whose illness or injury is proven and prevents them from performing work is entitled to sick leave according to approved medical reports, with wage compensation paid in accordance with social insurance and pension law.

How Is Pay Calculated During Sick Leave?

The method of calculating pay or compensation during sick leave differs according to the applicable legal and social insurance system, the type of establishment, the employee’s condition, and the approval of the medical report by the competent authority.

In some industrial establishments subject to special provisions, the sick employee may be entitled to sick leave periods with different wage percentages, such as:

• Three months with full pay in certain cases.
• Six months with pay equal to 85% of the wage.
• Three additional months with pay equal to 75% of the wage if the competent medical authority decides that recovery is possible.

However, these percentages should not be generalized to all cases without reviewing the type of establishment, employee status, social insurance system, internal regulations, and medical reports, because practical application may differ according to the legal status of each establishment.

Does the Employer Bear the Full Sick Leave Pay?

In many cases, sickness wage compensation is linked to the social insurance and pension system, and the employer may not necessarily bear the full amount in the same way as the regular salary.

Any amount paid by the social insurance system as wage compensation may be deducted from what the employer is obligated to pay, depending on the case and applicable legal system. Therefore, human resources or a labor law consultant should be consulted when there is a dispute about payment calculation.

Procedures for Obtaining Sick Leave

To keep sick leave organized and avoid workplace disputes, the employee should follow practical steps that help prove the medical condition and protect the right to leave.

• Notify the employer or direct manager of the medical condition as soon as possible.
• Submit a medical report or sick certificate from an approved authority.
• Follow the company’s policy regarding notification and submission of medical documents.
• Respond to any additional requests from HR or the competent medical authority.
• Do not extend the leave without a new medical report or approval from the competent authority.

Can the Employer Object to Sick Leave?

The employer has the right to regulate sick leave procedures inside the establishment and request proof of the medical condition in accordance with the law and regulations. The employer may also verify the validity of the medical report through the competent authority, especially if there are signs of misuse of the sick leave right.

However, the employer may not arbitrarily reject sick leave if it is supported by a valid and approved medical report. The employee should also not be penalized merely for being sick if the required procedures have been followed.

Can Sick Leave Be Converted into Annual Leave?

The law or internal work regulations may allow, in some cases, the use of annual leave balance alongside sick leave, or the conversion of certain periods into annual leave if the employee has sufficient balance, subject to the applicable rules.

Therefore, if the employee needs a longer absence period, the annual leave balance, company policy, and legal requirements should be reviewed before submitting the request.

What Is the Difference Between Sick Leave and Annual Leave?

Annual leave is an employee’s right for rest and renewal of energy, based on a defined annual balance. Sick leave, however, is linked to an illness or injury that prevents the employee from performing work and requires medical proof from a competent authority.

The two types should not be confused, because each has different conditions, procedures, and effects on pay, balance, and approval method.

Employee Rights During Sick Leave

• Receiving sick leave if illness or injury is medically proven.
• Receiving wage compensation or the legally due amount according to law and social insurance.
• Not being penalized merely for illness if the required procedures are followed.
• Using annual leave balance according to the applicable rules when needed.
• Returning to work after the leave ends if medically fit to work.

Employee Obligations During Sick Leave

• Notify the employer of the condition as soon as possible.
• Submit a valid and approved medical report.
• Avoid misuse of sick leave.
• Follow internal deadlines and procedures for submitting documents.
• Inform the employer of any extension or change in the medical condition.

Common Mistakes in Sick Leave Cases

• Absence without notifying the employer.
• Submitting an unapproved or unclear medical report.
• Treating sick leave as an unlimited right without controls.
• The employer rejecting leave despite a valid medical document.
• Failing to distinguish between monthly salary and sickness wage compensation.
• Not referring to social insurance or HR when a dispute arises.

When Do You Need Labor Legal Consultation?

You may need a labor lawyer consultation if the employer refuses to approve sick leave, makes unclear wage deductions, applies a penalty despite the employee submitting a medical report, or if there is a dispute over the leave duration or compensation calculation.

The employer may also need legal consultation to regulate sick leave policies inside the establishment and ensure a balance between the employee’s right to treatment and the organization’s right to work continuity.

How Qanoony Online Can Help

Through Qanoony Online, you can book an online labor legal consultation with a lawyer or consultant specialized in labor law and human resources to review your situation and clarify your rights and obligations before taking any step.

Whether you are an employee facing an issue with sick leave approval, or an employer who wants to regulate procedures inside the company, you can choose the right consultant based on specialization, price, rating, and available appointment.

If you want to understand the difference between types of leave in the private sector, you can also read our guide on annual leave for the private sector in Egypt to understand annual leave rules and how they differ from sick leave in conditions and procedures.

Final Thoughts

Sick leave in Egyptian labor law is an important employee right, but it is not a random procedure. Illness should be proven by an approved medical report, notification and document submission procedures should be followed, and the method of calculating pay or compensation should be understood according to labor law and social insurance rules.

Before entering a dispute over sick leave, wage deduction, or rejection of a medical report, it is better to obtain labor legal consultation to assess the situation and choose the correct action.

The information in this article is for general awareness only and does not replace consultation with a specialized lawyer before taking any legal action.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sick Leave in Egyptian Labor Law

When is an employee entitled to sick leave?

An employee is entitled to sick leave when illness or injury is proven and prevents them from working, based on an approved medical report or sick certificate from the competent authority.

Is sick leave paid?

An employee whose illness is proven may be entitled to sick leave with wage compensation according to the applicable legal and social insurance rules. Payment may differ depending on the establishment type and insurance system.

Can the employer reject sick leave?

The employer may not arbitrarily reject sick leave if it is supported by a valid and approved medical report, but may regulate procedures and verify the report according to the law and internal regulations.

Can sick leave be converted into annual leave?

In some cases, annual leave balance may be used alongside sick leave or certain periods may be converted according to legal controls and internal work regulations.

What should an employee do if wages are deducted during sick leave?

The employee should first contact HR to understand the reason for the deduction and how compensation was calculated, then request labor legal consultation if the dispute continues or the deduction is unclear.