Belgium May Bring Back Sick Notes From Day One

Employees in Belgium could once again be required to provide a doctor’s note from the first day of a short illness, but the change has not been approved yet.

The proposal was introduced by Axel Ronse, parliamentary group leader of N-VA, Belgium’s largest governing party. It aims to give employers more control over repeated short-term absences. For now, the current rules remain in place.

What is the current rule?

Since 2022, employees at companies with at least 50 workers have been allowed to stay home sick for a single day without providing a medical certificate.

The rule originally allowed this three times a year. In 2026, the number was reduced to two days per year.

N-VA says the current system can be misused by employees who repeatedly take a single day off without seeing a doctor. The party wants to give employers more options to deal with frequent short absences.

What does N-VA want to change?

Under the proposal, employers could once again require a medical certificate from the first day of illness.

However, the proposal does not simply give every employer the right to demand a doctor’s note from every employee at any time.

Instead, employers would need to have an absence policy or plan aimed at dealing with repeated short-term absences.

The employer could apply the requirement to certain employees or to the entire workforce, based on objective criteria set out in the company’s policy.

What happens after repeated absences?

The proposal also includes a system for employees who are frequently absent for short periods.

For example, an employee who has had at least three short absences within 12 months could be invited to a mandatory absence meeting.

The purpose of such a meeting would be to discuss the repeated absences and try to understand what is causing them.

Under the proposal, an employee who refuses to attend without a valid reason could, under certain conditions, lose the right to guaranteed pay.

Has the law been approved?

No. This is an important point for employees.

The N-VA proposal has been submitted to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, but it is still only a bill. It has not become law.

Several coalition partners have reportedly expressed reservations about the proposal. It has also not been agreed within the governing majority.

The parliamentary committee has requested several opinions on the proposal, meaning the discussion is expected to take at least several more months. Until a new law is approved and takes effect, employees continue to follow the existing rules.

Why does N-VA want the change?

N-VA says the goal is to address repeated short-term absences and give employers a way to better understand why an employee is frequently absent.

Ronse argues that being sick is not the problem, but that repeated short absences should allow an employer to look into what is happening and, where possible, prevent longer periods of absence.

The party also points to figures from HR service provider Securex. A 2024 analysis found a significant increase in one-day absences after the medical certificate requirement was removed for certain workers.

What does this mean for workers in Belgium?

For now, nothing changes. Employees who are covered by the current exemption can still use the two certificate-free sick days allowed under the 2026 rules.

The N-VA proposal could change this in the future if it receives enough support in Parliament and is eventually approved.

For the moment, however, workers do not need to start providing a doctor’s note from the first day of every illness simply because the proposal has been introduced.

The issue is still being debated in Parliament, and the final rules could change before any new law is adopted.