Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) announced that she will closely examine the impact of the mandatory sick note system, which requires a certificate from the very first day of illness. The requirement was agreed upon in the governing coalition committee.
Speaking to RTL’s “Nachtjournal Spezial” on Thursday, the SPD leader stated, “This was not my suggestion.” She intends to determine whether the new rule will actually have an effect or if it will instead lead to difficulties. She emphasized that the eventual legislative process will decide on any potential exemptions, noting, “It is not in the law yet. We will clarify that during the process.”
Bas also drew attention to the fact that some employers already have the right to request a certificate of incapacity for work starting from day one in certain individual cases. “There are already employers who can demand a certificate from the first day of illness. This is not new either.”
Furthermore, she cited remarks made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Bas mentioned that Merz himself stated earlier that employers or collective bargaining partners could make exceptions to the rule.
