Employers are incurring over RM1bil (S$415.6 million) losses annually because of
workers who feign illness to get sick leave, according to the Malaysian
Employers Federation (MEF).
"Malingering or faking sickness to obtain medical certificates (MCs) has
become a rampant practice in the country. The MCs rate in the country is now
among the highest in the region," said MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan. "Some employees will take MCs to go fishing, watch a movie, attend a wedding
kenduri or send the kids to school. They will even ask their colleagues to tell
their bosses they are on MC if they do not turn up for work the next day."
The MEF, which has just completed its survey on workplace productivity for
2010, is expected to release its report next week.
Shamsuddin told Sunday Star that in Malaysia, about 4% of lost man-days or
working days are attributed to MCs alone.
While acknowledging there were genuine sick cases, he said the number of
deceptive cases was high, with some malingerers exhausting the maximum 22 days
sick leave allowed in a year.
"Malingerers usually follow a pattern - they will take MCs just before or
right after a weekend or public holiday. Companies are keeping a close watch on
these employees and once there is sufficient proof of abuse, they will be
dismissed," Shamsuddin warned.
Under the Employment Act 1955, an employee who has served at least five years
with the same company is allowed up to 22 days sick leave annually which
employers feel are "too high" and could give rise to abuse. The number of days
do not include the 60 days entitlement for hospitalisation.
Malingerers, he added, were putting a financial strain on employers who had
to pay 250% more for each man-day lost when a worker went on sick leave.
Given the 4% loss due to MCs, a company with 1,000 workers stood to lose
9,120 man-days a year.
Shamsuddin added that some companies which offered incentives for staff with
good attendance found they were able to reduce the man-days loss due to MCs from
4% to 0.01%.
However, the majority of employers did not see the point of offering such
incentives as they were already paying their staff to work.
MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said they wanted to get a clearer
picture from the MEF, adding that it was unfair for employers to claim that most
workers on MCs were pretending to be sick.
"This is tantamount to questioning the integrity of doctors who issued the
MCs to the workers," he added.
He also disagreed with MEF's call to the Government to reduce sick leave from
the maximum 22 days, saying there were cases where employees were seriously ill
or had met with accidents and needed time to recuperate before reporting back to
work.

My Opinion :
Firstly, employees must understand that getting a job is not that easy and if they get one, they should know how to make sure that the job is safetly secured for them only and there is no way of loosing it.
Taking MC is no mistake but, employees on the other hand must understand that if they were not to go for work, when they are feeling well, the company is making a slight loss without them. Not only them if their colleagues also does the same thing, they company would definietly incur loss and the managment will definietly think of getting new people for their place. Its for sure that the company doesn't want to face any kind of loss. If not the employees have to look forward for pay decrease, and even to the extend of retrenchment.
Everyone wants to have a smooth and easy life. so its appropriate to take MC when really needed so. When taking MC the employee has to think from the company point of view to understand that wether the company needs them and that;s why they are employed.

Furthermore, doctors too must be aware of this kind of people and they must play a part to not to approve MC for this kind of people.

Done By: Veshallini