Spain pushes for tighter controls on fraudulent sick leave

A recent survey by the Instituto DyM shows that three quarters of Spaniards favour stronger monitoring of fraudulent medical leave. Support is especially high among voters of the governing PP (90.3%) and Vox (85.8%), while even a majority of centre‑left and left voters back tighter checks.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has labelled absenteeism a “cancer” that Spain cannot afford and pledged measures such as reducing salaries for workers found abusing sick‑leave benefits.

In a related case, a Spanish office worker who was on medical leave for back and shoulder pain entered and won a padel tournament. The employer hired private investigators, gathered photographic evidence of the competition, and dismissed the employee. The dispute was settled for €3,000.