Illness

(1) If a worker falls ill during his employment he shall receive free medical treatment, in hospital if necessary, otherwise as an outpatient. If he is in Category A or had worked for Government for at least 30 consecutive working days during the twelve months preceding his illness, and the illness is not due to the worker’s own default or misconduct, he may be granted sick leave on full pay for not more than 28 days in any one calendar year, provided that in cases meriting special consideration and where a period of treatment longer than 28 days is required, application may be made to the Ministry of Finance for additional paid sick leave. The granting of sick leave shall normally be conditional on the production of a medical certificate, but this condition may be waived for an absence of not more than one day provided not more than six days of paid leave shall be allowed without a medical certificate in any one year. 180 Belize Constitution (2) Any illness which is certified by a registered medical practitioner to be directly attributable to and brought about solely through the nature of the work e.g., the water itch experienced by men working in streams clearing channels, shall be regarded as if it were an occupational disease under the provisions of the Workmen Compensation Act and the workmen afforded compensation benefits in accordance with regulation 17, unless the worker qualifies for such benefits under the Social Security Scheme. CAP. 303. (3) If a worker is given notice of the termination of his service and becomes ill before such termination, he shall continue to be eligible for the benefits of the provisions of subregulation (1) of this regulation. The service shall be deemed to be terminated at the expiry of the period of notice or at the expiry of the full pay sick leave granted, whichever date is later. (4) The service of any worker suffering from sustained illness may be terminated by the giving of notice after the expiry of full pay sick leave for which he is eligible under the provisions of subregulation (1) of this regulation. CAP. 303.