- Germany's new sick leave rules will require medical certificates from the first day of absence, as part of a broader reform package aimed at improving productivity.
- Employees will no longer be able to call in sick for up to three days without seeing a doctor, according to the new regulations.
- Employers will have the right to request a doctor's certificate from the first day a person is on sick leave, enhancing accountability.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz has emphasized the need for these reforms, stating that the high rate of sick leave is harmful to productivity in Germany.
- The reform package includes 34 measures aimed at boosting growth, jobs, and competitiveness while maintaining social welfare protections.
- The package also features income tax cuts worth 10 billion euros ($11.4 billion), financed by higher taxes on high earners.
Germany's new sick leave rules mandate that employees provide a medical certificate from the first day of absence, a shift from the previous allowance of three days without documentation.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the need for these reforms, stating, “We know this is a tough decision. But we can no longer afford this competitive disadvantage caused by prolonged absences from work,” as reported by The Independent.4
The reform package, which includes 34 measures, aims to boost the economy by cutting income taxes and reducing bureaucracy.5
The tax cuts are projected to provide an annual relief of about €600 ($686.40) for families with two working parents and two children, while the total tax relief amounts to approximately €10 billion ($11.4 billion) per year.
Merz has called for public support, urging citizens to “Join us; support us in carrying out the reforms that are now necessary.” The reforms also include changes to the pension system, such as gradually raising the retirement age in line with life expectancy.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the potential impact on vulnerable populations, with warnings of increased homelessness as housing support may be cut under the new plans.
The government aims to pass these reforms through parliament by the end of the year, with the goal of revitalizing Germany's sluggish economy.
“Germany is rolling out tougher sick leave rules that mandate medical certificates from the first day of absence. This change is part of a comprehensive reform package aimed at boosting the economy and includes tax cuts and pension system changes.”
AP News
