He Government of Pedro Sanchez is preparing a new modification of temporary incapacity which caused a stir after Elma Saiz confirmed it last Friday. The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration announced with great fanfare a new “Flexible” sick leave which causes great controversy even before being approved. Everything you need to know about “flexible” sick leave prepared by Social Security.
It was last Friday when, by surprise Elma Sainz announced at Forum Europe that from the Ministry of Minister Inclusion, social security and migration They are working on a new modification of temporary disability, what we have always called sick leavewhich will allow the worker to voluntarily return to work. The minister clarified that the regulations that existed until now were very brutal since “either you were a worker or you were retired”.
“We have made this transit more flexible, based on volunteering. Same for temporary incapacity. There are people who can be on sick leave for one activity, but for the other they can do certain work,” he said about the periods during which sick leave can be accumulated in cases where the worker performs more than one activity.
This “Flexible” sick leave It could be carried out “in certain cases and always on a voluntary basis and with the guarantee of health and safety”, said the minister about a decision that has a political and economic context, since from the beginning Government They sell it as an advance for the worker, the explanation is that spending on seasonal disability benefits increased by 17% in the first half, assuming an investment of 10.422 million euros. And as is the case for other pensions such as retirement, it is necessary to tighten the conditions to be able to perpetuate the system.
The controversial “flexible” sick leave
THE “Flexible” sick leave announced with great fanfare by Elma Sainz will have to be put on the table to be able to negotiate with social agents and the Government itself is opposed to this. One of the first to move the hornet’s nest was the Minister of Health, Mónica García, who turned her back Yolanda Diaz specifying that this is a medical matter in which companies do not decide.
“The medical act of sick leave will not be said by companies or by Garamendi,” began the Minister of Health when talking about the measure that her own government wants to take regarding sick leave. Monica García also clarified that this measure “cannot be a tool of so-called flexibility and voluntarism” since she declared that this new rule could lead to “coercion of companies”.
He also said that it must be taken into account that workers would have to return to work “early, which would result in a poor prognosis for their health.” For his part, the Minister of Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, stressed that the proposal on flexible leave is a “starting” initiative that will have to be discussed and improved and, therefore, he considers it normal that there are now differences on this subject.
“It’s absurd”
Workers’ commissions also expressed opposition to the new “flexible” sick leave prepared by the government and Unai Sordo called it “absolute absurd.” “The minister has plunged herself into a puddle from which she should get out as quickly as possible,” he said of a measure which, although in preparation, has caused great controversy among all social actors, who should in principle benefit the most from this measure.
Today, temporary incapacity is “a daily allowance which covers the worker’s loss of income caused by a trivial illness or a non-professional accident”. This social security benefit covers registered workers who meet certain conditions. In the event of a trivial illness and a non-occupational accident, 60% of the regulatory base will be invoiced from the 4th day of sick leave until the 20th day inclusive and 75% from the 21st day. When the reason for sick leave is an occupational illness or a work accident, beneficiaries will receive 75% of the regulatory base from the day after the sick leave.
