The Verwilghen Act

EcoVadis recently awarded Vanbreda Risk & Benefits a silver EcoVadis medal for its sustainable business operations. This is a very welcome mark of recognition from a leading provider of sustainability assessments. Where sustainability is concerned, lack of progress clearly isn’t an option, so Marc Van kerckhoven, Director HR and Marketing & Communication, considers some important learning points for Vanbreda and the insurance industry as a whole.

Figures from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV) show that the number of Belgians who have been at home for more than a year due to burnout or depression has increased by 40 percent over the last four years. This is a worrying figure. It is becoming increasingly important for employers to arrange guaranteed income insurance for employees in the event that they become incapacitated for work. A recent court ruling on the restriction of cover from such insurance for psychological disorders has caused a stir within the insurance sector. We explain how this insurance works and the impact of the case in question.

Since March 2024, work accidents involving temporary workers have been included in the calculation of a company’s risk index*. This change to the law mainly affects companies that often employ temporary workers. It also provides an extra reason to tighten up safety measures for all employees. Colleague Geert De Krem explains the impact of this change.

*Royal Decree of 21 February 2024 amending the Royal Decree of 23 December 2008 implementing the Law of 10 April 1971 on work accidents in relation to disproportionately aggravated risks, published on 16 March 2024.

The legal retirement age in Belgium is currently 65 years, but rises to 66 in 2025 and 67 in 2030. If you’re self-employed it therefore makes sense to also extend your guaranteed income insurance until the age of 67. This insurance has numerous benefits, including the guarantee that you will remain covered until the statutory retirement age against loss of income caused by an inability to work due to illness or accident. In the attached document we explain how you can easily extend your current insurance.