Algerian social security minister declares war on fake sick lists

Algerian employment and social security minister said medical control department of social security kept watch on 14 million and 118,296 submitted medical files in 2007. Of them, 772,512 ones are sick list-related.Tayeb Louh mentioned that 421,301 of the files were rejected. That means only 12 percent of the sick list-related files were accepted and the rest was false.

“We discovered that some of those who are on the sick list are not at home but they are traveling around the world for touristy trips or visiting friends;” said the minister.

 “Social security department compensate them as they are on the sick list. Some of them seize that to find excuses for their absence at work,” he added.

The law stipulates that employees on the sick list do not have to work neither must they leave the country only   with authorization from the social security department.

Louh ordered local agencies of social security department to tighten up control measures on sick list-related files.

He also ordered local officials in social security institutions to send inspectors to employees on the sick list to fight cheating phenomenon.

“From now on, directors of social security agencies are responsible for fighting this phenomenon.”

 “If inspectors do not fond the employees on the sick list at home, sanctions will be issued against them.”Taybe Louh said control on sick list-related files will maintain financial balances of social security.