The Spanish government led by Pedro Sánchez has announced heightened surveillance for workers taking two or more temporary sick leaves per year. The decision was promoted by Elma Saiz, the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations, in response to data from a report by the Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility.
Workplace absenteeism has become one of the largest problems facing the Spanish economy. According to the latest report published by Randstad, work absences increased to 7.2 percent, exceeding the figure registered at the close of the previous year by one tenth of a percentage point. The situation is directly affecting companies and public coffers, prompting changes in Spanish labor law.
Automated Tracking by Social Security
To reduce absenteeism, the National Institute of Social Security will perform automated tracking of workers who apply for temporary incapacity leave for a second time or more within a single year. The measure addresses findings from the fiscal authority showing that roughly one quarter of employees accumulated more than half of all recorded temporary incapacity cases.
As part of this monitoring system, the State Observatory of Temporary Incapacity, established by the ministry in February 2026, will analyze sick leave cases in real time through automation. The observatory aims to detect fraud cases faster and with greater precision, while identifying instances where workers request leave for health conditions that are not being properly treated.
Earlier Medical Reviews and Inspection
Under the updated procedures, employees on temporary leave may be summoned to appear before a medical tribunal or mutual insurance company earlier than under standard timelines. For workers who have requested two or more temporary incapacities, the Social Security institute may conduct an investigation and file review to determine the underlying reasons for the requests.
If the reason for the leave is identical to that cited on previous occasions and the worker has not recovered work capacity, the medical tribunal will evaluate whether to grant permanent incapacity. However, if officials conclude there is no justified reason to remain on leave, the request can be denied. Special attention will also be focused on short-term absences lasting between one and four days.
Rising Costs and European Comparisons
Data from the Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility revealed that national expenditure on temporary sick leaves tripled between 2017 and 2024, while overall recorded cases grew by 58.4 percent during the same period. Figures from the National Institute of Social Security show that the total cost of temporary sick leaves to the Spanish economy reached 59,109 million euros last year.
The services sector experienced the largest direct impact, accounting for 45,096.1 million euros of that total. Temporary incapacity in Spain currently averages around 4.9 weeks of leave per worker each year, compared with a European average of 2.6 weeks.
