Sick Leave Rules in Kerala

Under Section 13 of the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960, an employee who completes 12 months of continuous service is entitled to leave with wages of up to 12 days a year on the ground of sickness or accident, and separately to casual leave with wages of up to 12 days a year on any reasonable ground. The same section also provides annual holidays with wages of 12 days after 12 months of service, accumulable up to 24 days — a distinct entitlement from sick and casual leave. Continuity of service for these purposes is preserved through interruptions caused by sickness, accident, or authorised leave (including holidays), up to 90 days in aggregate across a 12-month period. If an employee entitled to sick leave is discharged by their employer while sick, the employer must still pay the leave wages due at the time of discharge. As with other states' Shops Act provisions, sick leave availed under Kerala's Act is typically supported by a doctor-issued medical certificate, even though the Act itself does not prescribe a specific certificate format. Kerala's 12-day sick and 12-day casual leave structure closely mirrors the entitlement in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Telangana, and sits well above Haryana's lower 7-day floor.

Employees covered under the ESI Act at establishments within the scheme's reach can additionally claim ESI sickness benefit, administered separately by ESIC.