Victims of work-related illnesses will be entitled to compensation from January 1 next year, social affairs minister Karien van Gennip has announced.

A special fund is being set up for people who have developed conditions including lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and chronic painters’ disease, the minister said in a letter to parliament.

Until now lung cancer sufferers were not eligible for the compensation package for asbestos victims, while compensation for chronic painters’ disease, which is linked to long-term exposure to chemicals in paint, is being extended to self-employed workers.

Van Gennip said the government planned to extend the scheme further to other work-based illnesses ‘once it is clear that it is responsible to do so.’