A large part of the House of Representatives believes that people with long-term covid should be better supported. Care employees with long-term covid can be kept in service for six months to a year because of a subsidy scheme that started on Wednesday. But employees who are ill for more than two years can be fired.
The PvdA advocates the establishment of a fund that those affected can rely on. The trade union FNV previously proposed to set up a fund of 150 million euros to compensate people with long-term covid for loss of income and extra healthcare costs. According to the union, 1,000 healthcare workers are at risk of being fired.
Subsidy scheme not sufficient
The subsidy scheme that started on Wednesday is a good start, but insufficient, according to various opposition and coalition parties. This became apparent during a parliamentary debate on the cabinet’s approach to corona.
A group of healthcare employees who became ill at the beginning of the corona pandemic, is excluded from this arrangement. They have already been fired and are dependent on the WIA, said Attje Kuiken (PvdA). This is a benefit in the event of incapacity for work. “These people don’t feel heard and need help. A fund is needed. Let’s sort this out,” Kuiken said.
D66 also believes that something should be done for this group of people, said Wieke Paulusma. Not only financially, but possibly also with guidance to other work. The VVD has been drawing attention to people who are struggling with long-term covid for some time, Judith Tielen emphasized.
Other groups want to know from care minister Ernst Kuipers how many people with long-term covid are at home. Not only healthcare workers are affected by this.