{"id":2622955,"date":"2026-07-02T17:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T21:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/merz-outlines-sick-leave-crackdown-as-part-of-plan-to-revive-economy\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T17:25:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T21:25:41","slug":"merz-outlines-sick-leave-crackdown-as-part-of-plan-to-revive-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/merz-outlines-sick-leave-crackdown-as-part-of-plan-to-revive-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Merz outlines sick leave crackdown as part of plan to revive economy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmerz-outlines-sick-leave-crackdown-as-part-of-plan-to-revive-economy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2622955&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has presented a 34-point plan aimed at revitalizing Germany&#8217;s struggling economy. The reforms include stimulus packages for strategic industries, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-trump-endorsed-tax-hikes-on-wealthy-left-out-of-gop-tax-bill-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Two Trump-endorsed tax hikes on wealthy ... out of GOP tax bill - Washington Examiner\">modest tax increases<\/a> for the wealthy, tax reductions for working families, and a controversial measure too eliminate sick leave via phone, requiring a doctor\u2019s note from the first day of illness. Merz emphasized that these reforms are designed to prepare Germany for future challenges and restore its economic stability. The plan also proposes gradually raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 to address pension system pressures. While the reforms seek to boost competitiveness, they have faced criticism from both the left and right political spectra, with opposition party AFD condemning the measures as insufficient and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kevin-oleary-argues-harris-must-distance-herself-from-biden-to-win-election-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Kevin O...Leary argues Harris must \u2018distance herself... from Biden to win election - Washington Examiner\">overly left-leaning<\/a>. Germany continues to grapple with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/humiliating-problem-spotted-in-schumer-warren-and-bookers-trump-attack-videos-when-theyre-placed-side-by-side\/\" title=\"Humiliating Problem Spotted in Schumer, Warren, and Booker...s Trump Attack Videos When They...re Placed Side-by-Side\">economic issues stemming<\/a> from the energy crisis,aging population,and geopolitical tensions,which have further intricate its economic recovery.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/germany\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"298\">German<\/a> Chancellor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/friedrich-merz\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11796\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> unveiled a 34-point plan to revive Germany\u2019s economy, including controversial plans to crack down on sick leave.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Germany\u2019s economy has faltered in recent years, and the global <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/energy\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8777\">energy<\/a> crisis from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> war worsened the situation after a brief respite last year. After late-night negotiations Wednesday, Germany\u2019s ruling Christian Democratic Union-Social Democrat coalition reached a deal on the economic reform platform. Among the most notable reforms were stimulus packages for strategic industries, slight tax hikes for the ultrawealthy, tax cuts for working families, and, controversially, an end to sick leave via phone.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4634042\/vatican-sspx-schism-excommunication-clerics\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Vatican says SSPX in schism, affirms excommunication of laity and clerics<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4633207\/ukraine-missile-blitz-pain-russia\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ukraine\u2019s 40-day missile and drone blitz heaps pressure and pain on Putin<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4633580\/russian-missile-drone-attack-kyiv\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Russian missile attack on Kyiv collapses apartment building, trapping residents<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese reforms all have one goal: We\u2019re setting out into the future,\u201d Merz said. \u201cWe\u2019re strengthening ourselves so that we can live well in these new times.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom the very beginning, we set an agenda with a single goal in mind: We want to get Germany back on track. It is now clear that this is possible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal that raised the most eyebrows was the crackdown on sick leave. Facing concerns that Germans were abusing the easy way in which employees could call off sick, Merz announced that those seeking to call off sick would now require a doctor\u2019s note rather than a simple phone call, which he said had been abused following the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can no longer accept the extraordinarily high levels of sick leave in our companies,\u201d Merz said. \u201cWe are abolishing sick leave by telephone and introducing the requirement to submit a medical certificate from the very first day of illness.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe know this is a tough decision. But we can no longer afford this competitive disadvantage caused by prolonged absences from work,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high rates of sick leave have been a constant complaint for the CDU, but its SPD coalition partners have previously pushed against attempts to crack down.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reforms also targeted Germany\u2019s pension system, perhaps the biggest resource consumer in the country. The retirement age will be gradually raised over the ensuing decades, from its current position at 65 to 67, depending on years worked.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reform package was bound to provoke critics, both on the Left and Right. The right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland Party was quick to criticize the move, portraying it as caving to the Left.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4630769\/afd-end-russian-boycotts\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4630769\">AFD WANTS TO END GERMAN BOYCOTT ON RUSSIAN ENERGY, SAYS FAILED UKRAINE INVASION SHOWS KREMLIN IS NO THREAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnother broken CDU election promise, even more <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >left-wing redistribution &#038; minimal compromises<\/a> that don\u2019t deserve the name \u2018reform.\u2019 The fact that this is being sold as a \u2018breakthrough\u2019 shows just one thing: the government\u2019s complete inability to reform,\u201d AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Alice_Weidel\/status\/2072601635155550546?s=20\">post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Germany, the economic powerhouse of Europe as recently as the last decade, is embroiled in economic crisis over crippling issues from several angles, including the sudden end of its reliance on cheap Russian gas, an aging population, turbulent trade relations with the United States, the rise of China, and, most recently, energy price spikes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Merz unveils 34-point plan to boost Germany\u2019s economy, targeting sick leave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2622956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26117322865993.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[9168,48910,56293,4353,82116],"class_list":["post-2622955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-economy","tag-labor-policies","tag-merz","tag-reform","tag-sick-leave"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26117322865993.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2622955"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2622963,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622955\/revisions\/2622963"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2622956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2622955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2622955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2622955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}