Workers may face new rules for medical certificates

Workers in Fiji may soon be required to visit approved doctors for medical certificates under proposals aimed at curbing bogus sick leave claims.

Deputy Chairperson and Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar raised concerns this week during the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs hearing on the Employment Relations Bill, highlighting the cost of fraudulent certificates to employers.

“We know that some of these medical certificates are bogus certificates, and it’s a cost to the employer because of this dishonesty that we have in the system,” Ms Kumar said.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission suggested a solution already used by some companies and government agencies.

Commissioner Alefina Vuki said employers could maintain a list of qualified doctors that workers must visit for sick leave certification.

“Some companies have done it, and some state agencies, they actually have a list of qualified doctors that you can go and see,” Ms Vuki said.

She acknowledged that fraudulent medical certificates are a genuine problem in Fiji’s workplace.

“We live in a society where people try their luck,” Ms Vuki said.

Ms Kumar said during submissions, someone had proposed having selected doctors for each location, whether public or private, similar to embassy medical check-up requirements.

“For each location you have selected doctors,” Ms Kumar said.

“These are the only doctors you go, so that there is a sense of responsibility.”

The proposal aims to ensure accountability from medical practitioners while preventing workers from obtaining certificates from family members or relatives in the medical profession.

The committee heard that such a system would create a balance between workers’ rights to sick leave and employers' concerns about genuine illness.

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