Tom Pugh - tom.pugh@thelocal.com

Updated: Thu 2 Jul 2026 13:27 CET

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'Certificate of Incapacity for Work'. The coalition is planning to introduce stricter rules for sick leave certificates. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sina Schuldt

Sick workers in Germany could soon face more hurdles to prove they are genuinely ill. The government says it’s tackling high absenteeism – but doctors warn the plans could overwhelm doctors' offices and clinics.