As part of the measures implemented in schools and childcare facilities to combat the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19), a child may have to be placed in quarantine or isolation by order or recommendation of the Health Directorate, respectively the competent authority.

In order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, and depending on the evolution of the number of infections, particularly in view of the increase in infections over the last few weeks, it is necessary to take all measures likely to curb the spread. Thus, educational and childcare establishments, mini-crèches and parental assistants may be obliged to suspend their activities partially or entirely for a given period of time. In this context, a specific procedure has been put in place allowing one of the parents to benefit from the extended leave for family reasons.

Days taken as leave for family reasons because a child is quarantined or isolated or because of the suspension of activities are not deducted from the legal days of leave available per age group, the length of which depends on the age of the child.

Who is concerned

Parents concerned

Any parent who:

• is an employee (on a fixed-term contract, permanent contract or probationary period); or
  
• is self-employed and non-salaried; or
  
• is an apprentice; and
  
• is registered with social security in Luxembourg.

The parent must be responsible for:

• a child vulnerable to COVID-19 (the condition applies until 20 January 2021 inclusive); or
  
• a child of less than 13 years of age:
  • under a quarantine or isolation measure decided or recommended by the Health Directorate, respectively the competent authority; or
    
  • unable to attend the school or education and care facility or who benefits from distance learning (the condition applies until 20 January 2021 inclusive); or
    
  • a child born after 1 September 2016 (the condition applies until 20 January 2021 inclusive).

In the event of hospitalisation, the age limit is extended to 18 years of age. The age limit of less than 13 years of age does not apply to children receiving the special supplementary allowance (within the meaning of Article 274 of the Social Security Code).

Leave for family reasons may not be taken by both parents (or spouses) at the same time (same day/hour).

These limitations do not apply in the case of telework that remains work performed from home and during which the parent cannot provide care for the child. Therefore, when one parent is teleworking, the other parent can benefit from leave for family reasons during the other parent's hours or days of telework.

Children

All children:  

• vulnerable to COVID-19 provided that a medical certificate is produced attesting to this vulnerability and the contraindication of attending school or an education and care structure; or
  
• under 13 years of age:
  
  • who, for reasons related to the health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cannot attend school or an education and care structure or who benefit from distance learning on condition that they produce a certificate attesting to the given situation issued by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth. For children attending a school or childcare facility abroad, an official document from the competent foreign authority; or
    
  • under a quarantine or isolation measure decided by the Health Directorate.

This may be:

• a child born in wedlock;
• a child born out of wedlock;
• an adopted child.

Exemption from the age limit:

In the event of hospitalisation, the age limit is extended to 18 years of age. The age limit of less than 13 years of age does not apply to children receiving the special supplementary allowance (within the meaning of Article 274 of the Social Security Code).

How to proceed

Filing an application

A parent who needs to take leave for family reasons must inform their employer as quickly as possible, either verbally or in writing, and indicate the start and end date of said leave.

The parent must then fill in the form for leave for family reasons in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, sign it, and send it to both the National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé - CNS) and their employer, together with:

• the required supporting documents issued by the Health Directorate in the context of a quarantine or isolation measure for a child; or
  
• a medical certificate attesting to the child's vulnerability; or
  
• a certificate issued by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth for any child under the age of 13 who cannot attend school or a childcare facility or who benefits from distance learning for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For children residing abroad but whose parents are affiliated to the social security in Luxembourg, it is the competent authority in the country in question which recommends or takes the decision to place the child in quarantine or isolation. It must then draw up a certificate or attestation of this decision or recommendation. As in the case of educational establishments and structures located abroad, it is for the competent national authority of the competent country to issue an official document.

Sending documents to the CNS (for employees)

The application can be sent either electronically or by post.

Electronic submission

There are 2 ways of sending the form and the required supporting documents electronically to the CNS to apply for leave for family reasons (certificate issued by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth / official document issued by the competent foreign authority):

• print the form for leave for family reasons, sign it by hand, scan or take a good quality photo of the form and the required supporting documents and send them by email to cns-crf@secu.lu; or
  
• save the application form for leave for family reasons on your computer, complete it electronically using Adobe Acrobat Reader, sign it electronically with a LuxTrust smartcard, and send it by email, together with a scan of the certificate.

The subject line of the mail must contain the 13-digit national identification number (matricule).

Submission by post

The family leave form and supporting documents can be sent by post. You should print out the form, sign it by hand, and send it to the following address, together with the required certificate:

CNS
Indemnités pécuniaires
L-2980 Luxembourg

The form and the required certificate must be sent by normal post (not registered mail).

Procedure for the self-employed and non-salaried workers

Self-employed and non-salaried persons must complete the form and send it at the end of the period to the CNS, together with the required supporting documents:

• by email to cns-crf-nonsalaries@secu.lu, including the 13-digit national identification number in the subject line; or
  
• by standard post (not registered mail) to the address CNS, Indemnités pécuniaires, L-2980 Luxembourg.

The days that have been taken must be clearly indicated.

Duration of and conditions for granting leave

Days of leave taken during the period of suspension of activities shall not be deducted from the legal days of leave for family reasons available per age group.

The leave for family reasons can be split, i.e. it can be taken in hours or half-days.

Both parents cannot take leave for family reasons at the same time (same day/hour).

Obligation to inform the employee's employer

On the day of their absence, regardless of the duration of the child's illness, the beneficiary of the leave for family reasons must notify their employer, or the latter's representative, in person or through an intermediary, either orally or in writing.

Good to know

For questions:

• of a purely technical nature regarding this type of leave for family reasons, the body to contact is the National Health Fund (CNS);
• directly related to the placement in quarantine/isolation of a child, the body to contact is the Health Directorate.
  

Forms / Online services

Who to contact