Rehabilitation firm. ▪ The employer is obliged to engage a rehabilitation firm for the rehabilitation of a sick employee. This is in addition to its obligations of the Eligibility for Permanent Incapacity Benefit (Restrictions) Act. ▪ The rehabilitation firm must possess the Blik op Werk quality mark or a quality level that is demonstrably equivalent. ▪ If the employer has still to fulfil its obligation 14 weeks after the start of the sickness, the employee may themselves engage such a rehabilitation firm to provide training, guidance, and mediation. In that case, the costs will be paid by the Construction & Infrastructure Supplementary Fund. The Fund recovers the cost from the employer. This is laid down in the Rehabilitation Regulations of this Fund. These regulations are part of the BTER Construction & Infrastructure collective agreement. ▪ If the rehabilitation process results in the employee returning to work for another employer, the rehabilitation firm contacts the employee twice in the first six months after resuming work to inquire about their situation. If the employee requires one or more interviews with the rehabilitation firm, the costs thereof will be borne by the original employer.
