WILLEMSTAD – Respiratory illnesses continued to be the leading cause of employee sick leave in Curaçao during 2025, according to the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), which also reported a 10 percent increase in workplace accidents over the course of the year. The findings are contained in the institution's 2025 annual report.
SVB's Labour and Health Department conducted 42,388 medical consultations during 2025, an increase of 3.6 percent compared with the previous year.
The report notes that peaks in sick leave occurred in January and March, corresponding with higher levels of respiratory illnesses recorded by the island's public health surveillance system.
In addition to respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders and pregnancy-related leave remained among the three most common reasons for temporary work incapacity.
The report also shows that workplace accidents rose from 941 cases in 2024 to 1,031 in 2025.
SVB credits part of its success in reducing the duration of sick leave to an expanded early intervention program. The initiative, first introduced as a pilot in 2024, requires employees from selected high-risk companies to report to SVB earlier during their illness, allowing physicians to assess their condition sooner and helping prevent unnecessarily prolonged absences.
According to the institution, the program has contributed to shorter periods of work incapacity and lower overall wage replacement costs.