SpainThe hidden cost of the Spanish government's reforms has led to a significant increase in sick leave among public sector workers and those converted from temporary to permanent contracts. The state's expenditure on sick leave has tripled over the past decade, becoming the second-largest expense for the Social Security system after pensions. Despite efforts by the government to address this issue through negotiations with social agents, the measures implemented have proven insufficient. Some recent reforms aimed at protecting workers have inadvertently increased the likelihood of initiating sick leave processes. The evaluation conducted by the Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) identifies five factors contributing to the rise in sick leaves since 2018, including more protective regulations, salary supplements agreed upon in collective agreements, improved labor market conditions, deterioration of the healthcare system, and aging of the working population. Specifically, the AIReF study found that the 2018 decree allowing public employees to receive 100% of their pay during medical leave increased the probability of initiating sick leave by around 40%, while the 20
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced analysis of the impact of government reforms on sick leave rates, citing the AIReF report which highlights both the causes and unintended consequences of these policies. It does not exhibit overtly biased language or selective sourcing.
