The German Schwarz‑Red coalition announced forthcoming stricter procedures for issuing and submitting sick notes (Krankschreibungen) in order to bring down elevated absenteeism levels. Tighter sick‑note rules could lower fraudulent leave but impose additional administrative burdens on workers and raise verification costs for employers, affecting productivity and labour‑market dynamics. Federal coalition government (CDU/CSU‑SPD), employers, employees, health‑insurance providers, and labour unions. Legislative drafting and parliamentary debate, potential pushback from unions, introduction of digital verification tools, and monitoring of sick‑leave statistics for impact assessment. The governing coalition plans to make sick‑leave certification more burdensome for workers after noting persistently high sick‑leave rates across many firms. The move aims to reduce fraudulent or excessive absenteeism but will increase paperwork for employees and possibly raise compliance costs for employers. It fits within a broader reform push that includes tax and labour‑market measures.
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