Flemish coalition calls for easier return to work after serious illness
A broad coalition of employers, trade unions, health insurance funds and prevention services is calling for changes to make it easier for people to return to work after a long-term or serious illness. The initiative is led by Kom op tegen Kanker (Stand Up to Cancer) and Vlaams Patiëntenplatform vzw (Flemish Patient Platform).
Each year, tens of thousands of working-age people are diagnosed with cancer or another serious condition. Most want to work again, but in practice, that often proves difficult.
Research by the two organisations shows that while 62 per cent of respondents have returned to work after illness, only 17 per cent are back full-time, compared with 74 per cent before they became ill. Many move into part-time roles or adapted jobs instead. Some 45 per cent say their job is more demanding than before their illness, and nearly one in three feel their health is not sufficiently taken into account at work.
For jobseekers, the picture is even starker. Only 8 per cent report a positive experience when applying for work. A large majority (84 per cent) feel discriminated against when they mention their illness, and 74 per cent rate their job prospects as poor to very poor.
Four areas for improvement
The coalition has put forward four main proposals.
First, better support. People returning to work should receive tailored guidance, and more attention should be paid to jobseekers. Existing support measures, such as individualised pathways and return-to-work premiums, should be made more visible and easier to access. The organisations also argue that people should be given enough time to explore returning to their original employer before being redirected elsewhere.
Second, reintegration should be realistic. Rules, financial penalties and administrative hurdles can make gradual returns unnecessarily complicated. The coalition says these should be eased so people can rebuild their working lives step by step.
Third, information needs to be clearer. Both employers and employees often struggle to understand their rights and the support available. A single, accessible source of information and simpler rules would help.
Finally, return to work should become a normal part of workplace policy, with greater attention to wellbeing and the role of managers in supporting staff with long-term health issues.
Government role
The commitment has been signed by Kom op tegen Kanker, the Flemish Patient Platform, Unizo, Voka, the VBO (Federation of Belgian Enterprises), CM, Solidaris, the Liberal Mutualities, the Independent and Neutral Health Insurance Funds, Co-Prev, ABVV, ACV and ACLVB. Together, they underscore that lasting change will require government action, including targeted investment in accessible and personalised support.
In the coming months, Kom op tegen Kanker and the Flemish Patient Platform say they will continue to press for concrete steps to improve the system.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO ISABELL HOJMAN / TT
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