Sick Leave Rules in West Bengal

Under Section 11 of the West Bengal Shops and Establishments Act, 1963, an employee is entitled to privilege leave on full pay of 14 days for every completed year of continuous service (accumulable up to a maximum of 28 days), sick leave on half pay of 14 days a year, and casual leave on full pay of 10 days a year. Sick leave requires a medical certificate from a practitioner registered under the Bengal Medical Act, 1914 (or any other law currently in force), and can be carried forward up to a maximum of 56 days — a notably higher ceiling than several other states' Shops Acts. Casual leave cannot be carried forward, and ordinarily cannot be taken for more than 3 consecutive days at a time except in cases of sickness; previous permission in writing from the employer is required wherever practicable. The employer may also require the employee to be examined by another registered medical practitioner nominated by them before granting or extending sick leave. As with other states' Shops Acts, a doctor-signed certificate is the standard supporting document West Bengal employers expect for sick leave beyond a day or two, made especially relevant here by the Act's comparatively generous sick-leave allowance and its unusually high accumulation ceiling.

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