Sick - what happens now?

Anyone can become ill. But what should you do if you become ill while employed as a temporary worker? Read the protocol here that has been drawn up by the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency) and the staffing industry.

It is possible that your temporary employment agency operates its
own protocol in specific situations, so ask about this.

If you are sick:

  • Report in sick to the employment agency in the morning before 10 a.m.
  • Your agency will then report your sickness absence to the UWV
  • Be available for UWV checks

Stay at home

You are obliged to stay at home until you:

  • Have been visited by an insurance doctor
  • Have been telephoned by an employee of the UWV
  • Have been asked to attend a discussion with an insurance doctor or UWV employee
  • Return to work

Visit from the UWV

UWV may also oblige you to remain at home for the first two weeks in the morning until 10 a.m. and in the afternoon from 12.00 to 14.30 p.m. It is possible that you receive a visit by a UWV employee. You may of course leave the house to visit your doctor, the company doctor or the UWV. For further information, go to the UWV website.
• Provide the UWV with the address where you are convalescing
• Co-operate with the UWV’s procedure, which is aimed at helping you to return to work
• Provide input concerning your work replacement

UWV
(The pages of the UWV are in Dutch. If you have trouble reading Dutch or require explanation, ask your temporary employment agency for assistance)

Payment of benefit during sickness leave

As a phase A agency worker, the UWV will pay you 70% of the last wage you earned. This will be topped up to 91% in the first year and 80% in the second year of illness if you are working for an agency that operates the ABU CAO (Collective Labour Agreement for Temporary Agency Workers). If you work with an agency that operates the NBBU CAO, the payment will be topped up to 90% in the first year. You will find more information on this on the UWV website.

UWV
(The pages of the UWV are in Dutch. If you have trouble reading Dutch or require explanation, ask your temporary employment agency for assistance)

Sickness during holidays

In the event that you become ill during your holiday and this happens on paid leave days, you will be entitled to sickness benefit. If you become ill while in an EU country, you must report to the UWV and to the agency that you last worked for. If you become ill in a non-EU country with which the Netherlands has no treaty (e.g. Turkey and Morocco) then you must report to the authorities in that country and to the agency for which you last worked.

In all other countries, you must report to both the UWV and the agency for which you last worked. While receiving treatment in a foreign country, always request a written report from a doctor and send it to the UWV. When you have recovered, you must personally report this to your agency and the UWV.

UWV brochure on reporting sick during a holiday
(Available in Dutch only. If you have trouble reading Dutch or require explanation, ask your temporary employment agency for assistance)

Becoming ill after you have left employment

If you become ill after you have stopped working for a temporary employment agency and you have not yet found a new job, you can apply to the UWV for sickness benefit (continued effect of the Sickness Benefits Act).

Continued effect of the Sickness Benefits Act.
(In Dutch only. If you have trouble reading Dutch or require explanation, ask your temporary employment agency for assistance)

Permanent Invalidity Benefit (Restrictions) Act

The Permanent Invalidity Benefit (Restrictions) Act states that during the period in which you are ill, you must take a number of steps. Here is an overview:

  • day 1 → report sick
  • week 4 → fact finding (UWV and agency worker)
  • week 6 → problem diagnosis (UWV insurance doctor with agency worker)
  • week 8 → plan of approach drawn up (by the UWV and agency worker)
  • weeks 14 - 78 → contact every six weeks with the UWV
  • weeks 26, 52 and 78 → UWV assessment with agency worker of reintegration process and possible use of new interventions
  • week 78 → evaluation and discussion of WIA application (Work and Income (Capacity for Work) Act
  • week 84 → agency worker receives, completes and sends WIA application forms
  • weeks 84 - 91 → invitation for a discussion leading to start of decision-making process concerning the application for WIA benefit
  • week 104 → start of WIA benefit (Work and Income (Capacity for Work) Act