Supplementary allowance for temporary workers unable to work

A Royal Decree of August 5, 2026, makes mandatory the collective labor agreement of October 9, 2025, concluded within the Joint Committee for temporary agency work and approved companies providing local work or services, which grants a supplementary allowance to temporary workers in the event of incapacity for work. The text is published in the Belgian Official Gazette of September 4, 2026, page 48147, under the official reference [2026/200510].

The measure, taken on the proposal of the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, concerns thousands of temporary workers. It guarantees temporary workers, both blue-collar and white-collar, a income supplement when their incapacity for work extends beyond the end of their assignment contract.

A collective agreement made mandatory by royal decree

The Royal Decree of August 5, 2026, signed by King Philippe, makes mandatory the collective labor agreement of October 9, 2025, registered on October 28, 2025, under number 196128/CO/322. This agreement applies:

• to temporary work agencies referred to in Article 7, 1°, of the Law of July 24, 1987, on temporary work, temporary agency work, and the provision of workers to users;
• to temporary workers employed by these agencies, referred to in Article 7, 3° of the same law.

The scope of the supplementary allowance

When an incapacity for work resulting from a common law illness or accident begins during the execution of a temporary employment contract, the worker who has at least one month of seniority with the temporary work agency is entitled to guaranteed salary until the end of the contract, and then to a supplementary allowance in addition to the allowance paid by the health insurance fund (mutuelle). This allowance is paid by the employer and is due until the end of the period of incapacity, provided that the compensation period does not exceed 30 days from the first day of guaranteed salary.

The allowance is also due when the incapacity begins after the end of the temporary employment contract and no later than the first working day following the end of said contract, at the expense of the last employer.

Differentiated amounts according to category

The percentages of the supplementary allowance differ according to the professional category of the temporary worker:

• for the blue-collar temporary worker: 26.97% of the part of the normal salary that does not exceed the ceiling taken into account for the calculation of health and disability insurance benefits, and 86.97% of the part that exceeds this ceiling;
• for the white-collar temporary worker: 27.93% and 87.93% respectively.

The normal salary is calculated in accordance with Article 56, paragraph 3, of the Law of July 3, 1978, relating to employment contracts.

Conditions for granting and replacement of previous texts

The allowance is only due by the employer if the temporary worker meets the granting conditions defined in the law and the referred collective agreements, taking into account Article 13 of the law of July 24, 1987, with the same temporary work agency, and if they provide proof that the incapacity for work persists after the end of the contract. This proof must be provided in accordance with Article 7 of collective labor agreement No. 12bis of February 26, 1979, for workers, or collective labor agreement No. 13bis of the same date for employees.

The agreement of October 9, 2025, replaces and repeals the collective labor agreement of June 26, 2024 (registered under number 188646/CO/322) as well as collective labor agreement No. 47ter of July 8, 1993, regarding the guaranteed wage for temporary workers in the event of incapacity for work.

Enhanced protection for temporary workers

This measure strengthens the social protection of temporary workers, who are often precarious due to a succession of short-term assignments. By guaranteeing a supplementary income in the event of incapacity for work, it secures their financial situation during periods of illness or accident for thousands of workers in the sector.

Official source: Belgian Official Gazette of September 4, 2026, page 48147 — Royal Decree of August 5, 2026, making mandatory the collective labor agreement of October 9, 2025, concluded within the Joint Committee for temporary work and approved companies providing local work or services, relating to the supplementary allowance granted to temporary workers in the event of incapacity for work (reference [2026/200510]).