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Introduction of half-day sickness allowance (Clause 5, Article 45)

This regulation reflects flexibility and humanity, responding to the reality that workers may need a shorter period of rest to seek medical care or treatment.

Accordingly, the sickness allowance for half a day shall be 50% of the sickness allowance for one full day. When calculating sickness allowance, the sick leave period shall be rounded up to the nearest half-day: absences of less than half a day will be counted as a half day, and those longer than half a day but shorter than a full day will be counted as a full day. This approach ensures that workers receive their benefits more fairly and transparently.

Expansion of Circumstances Eligible for Sickness Benefits

The 2024 Law on Social Insurance has codified and supplemented the cases in which workers are entitled to sick leave benefits (Points a, c, d Clause 1 and Point b Clause 2 Article 42), including: Undergoing treatment for diseases other than occupational diseases; Undergoing treatment for injuries caused by accidents that happen during commuting between home and work with a reasonable time and route as prescribed by the law on occupational hygiene and safety; Donating or receiving transplantation of human organs or tissues as prescribed by law; using of precursors or combined drugs that contain precursors as prescribed by physicians in medical facilities.

Adjustments to Long-Term Sickness Benefits

Another important change is the amendment of regulations on long-term sick leave. Accordingly, employees are entitled to receive sickness benefits for a maximum of 30 to 70 days within a year, depending on their working conditions such as sectors, job types, etc.. The initial benefit rate remains at 75% of the salary used as the basis for social insurance contributions.

If the entitlement period ends but the employee still requires medical treatment, the employee who takes leave due to a disease requiring long-term treatment listed by the Minister of Health will continue to receive sickness benefits at the lower rates, based on the duration of mandatory social insurance premiums contribution: 65% of the salary on which social insurance premiums are paid if compulsory social insurance has been fully paid for at least 30 years; 55% for at least 15 years to under 30 years; 50% for under 15 years.

Health Insurance Coverage During Sick Leave

To alleviate the financial burden on employees during their treatment, the 2024 Social Insurance Law also adds a provision: Employees will have their health insurance premiums paid by the social insurance fund if he/she takes sick leave for at least 14 working days. This new provision helps employees feel more secure about medical expenses when they have no income due to illness.

The new points in the sickness benefits of the 2024 Social Insurance Law highlight the continued expansion and improvement of social welfare policies. With stable pension levels and regularly adjusted benefits and additional support for health insurance premiums, employees will be better ensured for their livelihoods, especially during periods of serious illness.