Extent of accumulated leave amongst public healthcare workers and cap on leave that can be encashed

NOTICE PAPER NO. 890
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 11 JANUARY 2022

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Shahira Abdullah
Nominated MP

Question No. 2262

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what proportion of public healthcare workers have been unable to clear at least 50% of their accumulated leave in 2021 despite the ongoing public healthcare manpower crunch; (b) what is the average cap on leave that can be encashed for 2021 for these workers; and (c) what proportion of healthcare workers have had to forfeit their leave as they have exceeded the cap on leave encashment.

Written Answer

We need some time to collate the inputs from various HR departments of hospitals, in order to know the proportion of public healthcare workers who are unable to clear at least 50% of their accumulated leave in 2021. However, less than one-third of public healthcare workers will not be able to fully clear their accumulated leave for 2021. Our public healthcare institutions have allowed their staff to carry forward unused 2021 annual leave to 2022 and to also allow encashment of up to one-third of the 2021 annual leave entitlement. Thus far, less than 1% of staff have had to forfeit their accumulated leave in 2021.