China Sick Leave Pay Calculator 2026 | Medical Period & Sick Pay Rates

Employment & Sick Leave Details

Normal monthly wage (¥)Your regular monthly pay before deductions

Total cumulative working years (all employers)Determines the medical treatment period length

Years at current employerDetermines the sick pay ratio tier (Shanghai rule)

Local sick pay ruleSick pay rules vary by province and city; pick the closest reference

Sick leave days to estimateCalendar days of certified sick leave

Local monthly minimum wage (¥, optional)Used for the 80% minimum-wage floor check — check your city's current figure

Sick Leave Result

How China sick leave pay works

Medical treatment period (medical period) is set by the 1994 MOLSS rules: for employees with under 10 total working years, 3 months (under 5 years at the employer) or 6 months (5 years or more); for 10 or more total years, 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24 months by tenure at the employer. During this period the employer cannot terminate under Articles 40 or 41 of the Labor Contract Law.

Sick pay ratios are set locally. The Shanghai rule pays 60% under 2 years of service, 70% for 2–4, 80% for 4–6, 90% for 6–8 and 100% from 8 years, applied to a base of 70% of normal wages when nothing is agreed. Shenzhen pays at least 60% of normal wages. Most other regions use similar 60%–100% tiers.

The 80% floor: under the 1995 MOLSS interpretation (Art. 59), sick pay may fall below the local minimum wage but not below 80% of it. Statutory social insurance contributions continue during sick leave.

After the medical period: if the employee cannot resume original or reassigned work, the employer may terminate under Article 40(1) with 30 days' notice (or one month's pay in lieu) plus statutory severance N.

Medical treatment period (医疗期)

China's medical treatment period is the period during which an employer cannot terminate the labor contract due to illness or non-work injury. The length depends on the employee's total cumulative working years and the years at the current employer:

Under 10 years total service: Under 5 years at current employer = 3 months; 5+ years at current employer = 6 months
10+ years total service: Under 5 years = 6 months; 5-10 years = 9 months; 10-15 years = 12 months; 15-20 years = 18 months; 20+ years = 24 months

The medical period is measured cumulatively: a 3-month period is counted over 6 months, 6 months over 12 months, 9 months over 15 months, and so on.

Sick leave pay rates during the medical period

During the medical treatment period, the employer must pay sick leave salary at a rate not lower than 80% of the local minimum wage. Many localities have more specific rules based on years of service:

Shanghai: 60%-100% of salary depending on continuous service years (under 2 years: 60%, 2-4 years: 70%, 4-6 years: 80%, 6-8 years: 90%, 8+ years: 100%)
Beijing: Not less than 80% of the minimum wage
Guangdong: 60%-100% based on years of service

Specific rates vary significantly by locality, so employees should check the local regulations.

What happens after the medical period ends

If the employee is unable to return to work after the medical period expires, the employer may:

Arrange for a different position that the employee can perform
If the employee cannot perform either the original or reassigned work, terminate the contract under Article 40 with 30 days' notice or 1 month's payment in lieu, plus economic compensation (N)

The employer may also require a medical examination to confirm the employee's fitness for work.

Required documentation

To qualify for sick leave pay, employees generally need to provide:

A medical certificate (病假证明) from a registered hospital or clinic
Medical records and diagnosis documents
Written notice to the employer as soon as possible

The employer cannot require the employee to work during the medical period. Retaliation for taking sick leave is prohibited.

Interaction with other benefits

During sick leave, the employee's social insurance contributions continue to be paid by both employer and employee as normal. Sick leave does not count as annual leave, and the employee retains all other statutory rights. If the illness is work-related (occupational disease or work injury), different rules apply under the work injury insurance system, including potentially longer treatment periods and full salary during the停工留薪期 (work injury suspension period).

❓ FAQ

What is the medical treatment period in China?

Depending on total working years and years at the current employer, employees are entitled to a protected medical treatment period of 3 to 24 months. During this period the employer cannot terminate the contract on no-fault or redundancy grounds.

How much sick pay do I get in China?

Sick pay is set by local rules. Shanghai uses 60%–100% of a base equal to 70% of normal wages by tenure; Shenzhen pays at least 60% of normal wages. Sick pay may fall below the minimum wage but never below 80% of it.

Can my employer terminate me while I am on sick leave?

Not during the statutory medical treatment period on no-fault or redundancy grounds. Termination during the medical period generally counts as unlawful dismissal, triggering 2N compensation. After the medical period, Article 40(1) termination requires 30 days' notice or one month's pay in lieu plus severance N.

Is sick leave pay taxed in China?

Yes. Sick pay is treated as salary income and is subject to individual income tax together with your monthly payroll, through the same monthly withholding and annual reconciliation.