In recent years, the number of self-employed workers on sickness invalidity has continued to rise. During the legislature, David Clarinval launched an action plan and prevention campaigns to try to curb this phenomenon, including the introduction of a bonus and return-to-work pathways. This Friday, the Council of Ministers gave the green light to additional measures.
Specifically, this involves easing the combination rule. Until now, a self-employed person carrying out a supplementary activity as an employee or civil servant completely lost their sickness benefit as a self-employed worker in the event of incapacity for work during the period in which they received the guaranteed salary for the limited activity.
An unfair situation that the minister wanted to remedy. In future, the amount of the guaranteed salary, converted into working days, will be deducted from the self-employed worker's sickness benefit.
The regulations governing the resumption of activity by a self-employed person who was incapacitated for work will also be simplified. Only a single authorisation will now be required, as is the case for employees.
David Clarinval, Minister for the Self-Employed: “When a self-employed person falls ill, their business is genuinely at risk. That's why, during this legislature, I made sure to introduce a return-to-work pathway for incapacitated self-employed workers that is fast and tailored to their specific situation. This allows the self-employed person to resume their activity while taking their state of health into account. However, a support policy remains essential. With these additional measures, I believe we will be able to remove the existing obstacles to a gradual resumption of self-employed activity after incapacity for work.”