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17 February 2005
BRUSSELS – An epidemic of fake illness claims is sweeping through the Belgian police force, according to damning new figures.
The absentee rate for Belgian police officers claiming to be ill has risen to eight percent.
This represents two percent more than the average rate of absenteeism in the work force, which currently stands at 6-6.5 percent.
In a bid to stop the skivers, police officers will now have to send a doctors certificate verifying their illness to a central control body.
Interior minister Patrick Dewael hopes this way to reduce absenteeism by two percent, putting 570 officers back on the beat.
[Copyright Expatica 2005]
Subject: Belgian news