Sick pay period extended

MPs today voted unanimously in favour of a bill to amend the Sickness Benefits Act.

A key change is an extension of the maximum sick pay period from 40 weeks to 52 weeks. In certain cases, the period may extend beyond 52 weeks.

This is set to make a big difference to the lives of people who have previously fallen out of the welfare safety net due to regulatory complications, according to social affairs minister Sólvit Nolsø, who introduced the bill.

Necessary changes

He adds that extending the sick pay period is necessary as it is not unusual for e.g. cancer patients to be unfit to work for more than 40 weeks.

The new law, which comes into effect on 1 April, also offers improved sickness benefits conditions for small business owners and the right to sick pay for those who have deferred their pension.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

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