Sick pay reform to make employers more responsible for staff health

Employers in Belgium could be required to contribute to a worker's long-term sick pay for up to seven months, in a new proposal that aims to make companies more invested in the health of their staff.

Until now, the first month of sick pay is the employer's responsibility, and a health insurer picks up the rest. Federal health minister Maggie De Block says companies should pay for longer, to encourage them to help staff recover and get back to work.

De Block has proposed that employers should continue to contribute 10% of a worker's salary from the second to the seventh month that they are off sick. Small companies would be exonerated from the new rule.

"We must do more in terms of prevention and helping people get back to work," the minister said. "The government has decided to work on this proposal, which aims to involve everyone in tackling the problem."

The idea has already angered employers' federation FEB, which describes it as a new form of tax. CDH politician Catherine Fonck said the proposal was "a stupid and nasty approach, short-termist and purely for budgetary reasons".

Liberal trade union CGSLB praised the move, saying it would make employers more accountable and responsible for their workers' health and well-being.