Since 1 January 2024, a specific template for a medical certificate can be submitted by your employee if he falls ill during his annual leave. However, use of this template is not compulsory.

Carry-over of leave days in the event of illness

Since 1 January 2024, an employee who falls ill during his annual leave may carry over his annual leave days to a later date in the holiday year, as explained in our Infoflashes of 10 July 2023 and 02 August 2023.

To exercise this right, your employee has two obligations:

1.  Notify you if he is at an address other than the one where he is normally located; and
2. Provide you with a medical certificate within two working days (or another period stipulated in the employment regulations) or within a reasonable period in the event of force majeure. A specific template for the medical certificate has just been laid down by Royal Decree. However, your employee is not obliged to use this model.

Source: Royal Decree of 22 December 2023 establishing a specific template for a medical certificate for incapacity for work occurring during an annual leave period, Belgian Official Gazette of 29.12.2023.