Under the Employment Contracts Act, if an employee’s child or a child under the age of 10 who lives with them on a permanent basis suddenly falls ill, the employee is entitled to temporary child care leave in order to arrange child care or look after the sick child. Temporary child care leave can last for up to four working days at a time. Parents are entitled to temporary child care leave even if the sick child does not live with them.

Temporary child care leave can last up to four working days at a time. Both parents cannot take temporary child care leave at the same time. Either parent may take temporary child care leave lasting a maximum of four working days. Parents can also split the leave between them as they wish, for example by one parent staying with the child in the mornings and the other in the afternoons or by taking alternate days off. If the parents take turns caring for the child, the maximum total length of leave is still four working days. If one of the parents normally stays at home and is able to look after the child, the working parent is not entitled to leave.

Employees must notify their employer of the need to take temporary child care leave and its estimated length as soon as possible. The employer can request proof of the grounds for the leave.

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