WILLEMSTAD – The Social Insurance Bank Curaçao is urging employees who are officially on sick leave to refrain from taking part in carnival activities if this is incompatible with their medical condition. Those who ignore the warning risk immediate suspension of their benefits and possible further measures.
In a public notice, the Social Insurance Bank emphasized that being declared unfit for work means an employee is temporarily unable to perform their job duties. Participation in festivities such as carnival is not permitted if it interferes with recovery, could worsen the medical condition, or poses a risk to others.
The warning is based on the National Ordinance on Health Insurance, which stipulates that employees on sick leave must comply with conditions that promote recovery. According to the Social Insurance Bank, taking part in public celebrations may conflict with these obligations, depending on the nature of the illness and the medical assessment.
The institution stated that if violations are established, benefits may be stopped immediately and that additional measures are not ruled out. The bank says it counts on the understanding and cooperation of employees, particularly during the carnival period, when compliance receives heightened attention.
With this call, the Social Insurance Bank aims to underline that sick leave is not leisure time but is intended for recovery, and that misuse can have direct consequences for entitlement to benefits.