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The health allowance is a wage supplement paid to workers in the event of
sickness, from the fourth day. No benefit is paid for the first 3 days. The benefit is paid to private sector workers and Service Sector employees
(formerly trade sector), people who are unemployed and suspended from work
(belonging to the above categories) provided the working relationship ceased or
was suspended no more than 60 days before the beginning of the sickness.
Each agreement allows a maximum number of days of absence for sickness and
the employer may fire the employee for a justified reason if he or she remains
off work for a longer period. The sickness benefit is payable for periods of no
more than 180 calendar days in a calendar year.
For workers on short-term contracts, the right to sickness benefit ceases
when the employee stops work. In such cases, INPS pays the benefit directly to
people who are unemployed or suspended from work (who do not receive an
allowance to supplement their income), when the benefit is reduced to
agricultural workers and workers hired on temporary contracts for seasonal work.
For most categories, the amount is equal to 50% of the average overall daily
wage for the first twenty days of sickness and 66.66% for subsequent days of the
same disease or a relapse.
Text last edited on: 02/2007
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.
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