The Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, announced today after the Cabinet meeting that sick leave days in the public sector will be reduced from 42 to 28.
Additionally, he stated that non-certified sick leave days will be reduced from 8 to 6.
The Minister of Finance revealed that a change is being pursued to extend sick leave periods to three instead of the current two.
Regarding long-term sick leave, the first extension period will be with full benefits, the second with 60% of the salary, and the third with 50%.
For the same category of patients, the requirement for approval of sick leave extensions by the medical board is removed. Instead, approval will be granted upon submission of a medical certificate and approval from the relevant supervisor.
When asked if there have been cases of abuse of this right leading to these changes, Mr. Keravnos stated that there have been identified cases of abuse.
Moreover, it was noted that this advantage of 42 days of sick leave is not being utilized as it should, prompting the need for differentiation and modernization of the legislation governing these issues.
