Compensation for sick leave: what changes in the public and private sectors?

Public officials

As of 1^er March 2025, for civil servants and contractors, the first 3 months of sickness leave are now compensated for 90% of the index salary. The compensation so far has been for 100% of the index treatment in those first three months.

For the next 9 months, the compensation remains the same, public officials will still receive 50% of their salary. They also retain one day's waiting in case of sick leave.

Per diems (private sector employees and contract staff)

You are a private sector employee or a public service contract agent. If you have a work stoppage, the loss of your income is compensated by daily allowances (also called IJ) paid by your health insurance fund.

The terms of compensation change as of 1^er April, pursuant to a February 20, 2025, decree.

The employee is currently covered up to 50% of his gross salary, up to a maximum of 1.8 Smic. From 1^er April, the maximum salary will be lowered to 1.4 times the minimum wage.

The waiting period remains 3 days for private sector employees (this means that the allowances are paid from 4^e day).

Per diems cover work stoppages in the following situations:

• illness, whether occupational or non-occupational;
• accident at work (including commuting accident);
• maternity;
• paternity;
• adoption;
• grief.

Amount of daily allowances in 2025

The daily allowances are determined on the basis of the basic daily wage, itself calculated on the basis of the gross wages of the 3 months preceding the termination; or, for employees whose remuneration varies (such as temporary workers or seasonal workers), on the basis of the last 12 months.

If you receive a monthly salary, the basic daily wage is equal to the total of the last 3 gross salaries received before the work stoppage, divided by 91.25. The per diem is 50% of this basic daily wage.

In addition, the total amount of IJs is limited by a ceiling set each year on the basis of the Smic.

As of 1^er april 2025, this ceiling is therefore amended to 1.4 times the monthly minimum wage, or €2,522.57 (against 3,242.31 € with the ceiling of 1.8 times the Smic).