Civil servants face axe for excess sickleave

Supervisors at state agencies will be able to fire civil servants whose sick-leave exceeds 120 days in a fiscal year, under a regulation approved by Cabinet yesterday.

The regulation, proposed by the Civil Service Commission, will also give supervisors the power to dismiss any official who has taken more than 60 days of sick leave for two consecutive years.

"The regulation will not apply to officials who have been injured or fallen ill because of their duties," deputy government spokesman Parkdehans Himathongkom said.

He said supervisors must first send the officials in question to a state hospital for an examination.

"A doctor's opinion will be used to determine whether the officials are fit to remain in service," Parkdehans said.