A worker, who is unable to perform his normal duties at work due to sickness or accidents occurring in the worker’s free time, is entitled to wages from his employer for a certain period of time.
Minimum rights of workers are regulated in the Act Respecting Labourers’ Right […] to Wages on Account of Absence through Sickness and Accidents No. 19/1979, and further improved upon in collective agreements. The Act provides workers with basic rights in case of absence from work due to sickness or accidents occurring in the worker’s free time.
The minimum rights during the first year of service with an employer are 2 days in respect of each month. After one year of employment an worker is entitled to total wages for 1 month out of every 12 months, after three years with the same employer 1 month of total wages and 1 month with day wages out of every 12 months, and finally after five years with the same employer 1 month of total wages and 2 months with day wages out of every 12 months.
Collective agreements provide for additional rights in case of absence from work due to illness. These rights vary depending on the applicable collective agreement.
