Educational staff who have been ill for a long time, when they have no more sick days, are visited by the government agency Medex, which carries out a medical assessment. There is a problem, especially for young people who have not yet accumulated many sick days and therefore receive an assessment faster. Those who cannot work part-time are then sent on a so-called medical pension. But for young people, the monthly amount they receive in that case is very limited because they have only completed a short career, Kom op tegen Kanker emphasizes.
When Medex decides that a teacher can return to work, they must work part-time for 90 days. But that period is often too short for someone who is recovering from cancer treatment, according to Kom op tegen Kanker. Anyone who wants to work part-time for a longer period of time ends up in the regime of ‘long-term leave for reduced performance due to illness’. This means that they work between 50 and 75 percent, and are paid at 60 percent for the remaining hours. Those in that system will never be able to work full-time again.
The organization therefore advocates changing the lower and upper limits in that regime. Her message is that anyone who wants to work should also be able to do so for less than half-time. In addition, “the state of health can evolve”. “Anyone who, due to their medical situation, needs to work less than 50 or more than 75 percent, should be given the opportunity to do so,” emphasizes Wim Geluykens, researcher-lawyer at Kom op tegen Kanker.
It is important for cancer patients that they can reintegrate into society, Geluykens emphasizes. “Rejoining a fully-fledged part of society is important for cancer survivors, but not easy. Appointed teaching staff should be able to start again at their own pace.”