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[POLITICS] · Germany · 95 sources

Germany to tighten sick‑leave rules, requiring doctor’s note from day one

Germany’s governing coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, plans to tighten sick‑leave regulations. From January 2025 workers must present a medical certificate for any illness on the first day of absence and the option of obtaining a sick note by phone or video will be abolished. The change is part of a broader reform package aimed at reducing absenteeism, which the government says harms the country’s competitiveness.

Critics—including the physicians’ association KBV, trade unions, and economists—warn that the measure could overload doctors’ offices, increase infection risk in crowded waiting rooms, and may not lower overall sick‑leave days. Phone‑issued certificates currently account for only about 1 % of all attestations. Public opinion is also skeptical: a YouGov poll showed 59 % of respondents oppose a mandatory first‑day sick note. Within the coalition, figures such as SPD leader Lars Klingbeil call for a pragmatic implementation that allows flexibility through collective agreements, while some CDU members have voiced concerns about the political fallout.

Sources

Der Krampf mit den Krankschreibungen [www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de]
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