An employee is obliged to furnish an employer with a legitimate medical certificate “if the employee is absent from work for more than two consecutive days or on more than two occasions during an eight week period”.

The medical certificate must be issued and signed by a medical practitioner or any other person who is certified to diagnose and treat patients and who is registered with a professional council established by an Act of Parliament.

Such medical certificate should contain the following information namely:

• The name, address and qualification of the practitioner.
• The date and time of the examination
• A description of the illness
• Whether the patients is totally unfit for duty of whether the patient is able to perform less strenuous duties in the work situation.
• The exact period of recommended sick leave.
• The date of issuing the certificate of illness.
• A clear indication of the identity of the practitioner who issued the certificate, which shall be personally and originally signed by him or her next to his or her initials and surname in printed or block letters.
Medical certificates issued by clinics and hospitals are only admissible in the event that they have been signed by a registered medical practitioner.

For further information or any labour related matters, you can contact Bernard Reisner:
W.Tel no.: 021-423-3959
Cell: 082-433-8714
Fax: 021-4232105
E-mail: bernard@capelabour.co.za
Website: www.capelabour.co.za