From the perspective of government the reform
has finally been successful and has brought about
the results that were intended: the reduction of the
high rates of absenteeism and disability and a more
flexible and market-directed Occupational Health Ser-
vices (OHSs). The financial incentives, however, were
not sufficient to bring about the success that is often
assumed by European policymakers and economists
[21,22]. Only after the development of an effective
social infra-structure created by private insurance com-
panies and branch organizations, stimulated by new
legislation (Law on Gate-keeping Disability Insurance)
and covenants that were aiming at a greater involve-
ment of employers and employees, most companies
seriously start to develop a policy for prevention and
managing of absenteeism and disability. Without this
infra-structure companies and especially SME, gener-
ally are inclined to avoid the financial incentives by
taking an insurance for these risks. OHS services are
in fact fuzzy commodities and their effectiveness can-
not be demonstrated right away, but depends highly on