Germany has proposed making medical certification from the first day of illness the standard requirement for sick leave.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz included the measure in a 34-point reform package aimed at improving productivity and economic competitiveness.
The proposal would also restrict the use of sick notes issued solely through telephone consultations with doctors.
Germany's government has proposed stricter sick leave rules that would require employees to provide a doctor's note from the first day of illness. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the measure on Thursday as part of a 34-point reform package intended to boost productivity, reduce bureaucracy, and support economic growth in Europe's largest economy.
The proposal would replace the current practice that generally allows short-term absences without immediate medical certification and could limit the use of sick notes obtained without an in-person examination.
Under the existing system, German employees can usually stay home for up to three days without submitting a medical certificate immediately, although companies already have the right to request proof earlier in individual cases. The proposed changes would make documentation from the first day of illness the norm.
The measures would also curb the practice of obtaining extended sick notes through telephone consultations alone, requiring workers to see a doctor in person before extended leave can be certified.
Presenting the reforms, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, "We can no longer accept the extraordinarily high levels of sick leave in our companies," linking workplace absenteeism to broader concerns about economic output and competitiveness.
Deccan Herald reported that full-time employees in Germany took an average of 3.6 weeks of sick leave in 2024, a figure that has fueled debate over labor productivity and the financial impact of prolonged absences.
Medical certificates formally document that an employee is unfit for work because of illness and help employers process paid sick leave in line with labor rules.
In Germany, workers can receive continued wage payments for up to six weeks during a qualifying illness under existing regulations.
The proposed changes have also raised questions about how employers can encourage attendance without pushing people to return to work before they have recovered, particularly during seasonal outbreaks of infectious illnesses.
The proposed sick leave changes are part of a broader 34-point agenda that includes tax relief for low- and middle-income families, pension reforms, and measures to reduce administrative requirements for businesses.
According to Associated Press reports carried by NDTV, the government also plans to allow companies to offer fixed-term contracts of up to 48 months until 2030 as part of efforts to encourage investment and economic activity.
Presenting the package, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, "These reforms all have one goal: We're setting out into the future. We're strengthening ourselves so that we can live well in these new times."
Germany's economy returned to modest growth last year after contracting for two consecutive years, and the government expects growth of 0.5% this year, according to Associated Press reporting.
Policymakers have also pointed to the pressures of an ageing population and rising pension and healthcare costs as reasons for pursuing structural reforms.
(Rh/TP/MSM)