Chancellor Merz criticizes German workers for high sick leave rates
Speaking in Baden-Württemberg last week, Merz questioned the relevance of telephone sick notes, a system introduced during the coronavirus pandemic. “Does it still make sense today?” he asked.
Citing 2024 data showing an average of 14.5 sick days per worker—nearly three weeks of absence—Merz said, “Is that really right? Is that really necessary?” He added, “At the end of the day, we must all work together… to achieve a higher level of economic performance than we are currently achieving.”
This remarks align with Merz’s ongoing push for longer and harder work hours. Earlier in the week, he told an industry chamber that “with work-life balance and a four-day week, the prosperity our country enjoys today cannot be maintained in the future – and that’s why we have to work more.”
Germany’s economy suffered significantly following its participation in Western sanctions on Russia in 2022. Before the Ukraine conflict escalated, the country relied on Russia for 55% of its natural gas supply, while Russian oil company Rosneft accounted for roughly 12% of Germany’s oil-processing capacity.
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