Alberto Núñez Feijóo (PP), leader of the Partido Popular, suggested Tuesday that workers on sick leave should receive a reduced salary [1].
The proposal highlights a growing political divide over labor rights and economic sustainability in Spain, pitting the center-right opposition against the current administration's social protections.
Speaking to a group of entrepreneurs in Bilbao, Feijóo said labor absenteeism is a "cáncer que no podemos pagar" — a cancer we cannot afford [1]. He said that the current system is unsustainable for the Spanish economy, stating that approximately 1.2 million people do not attend work every day [2].
Feijóo questioned the practice of employees receiving the same pay while on leave as they do while working [3]. He said that the financial impact of this absenteeism costs Spain more than €30,000 million [1]. According to Feijóo, implementing measures to reduce these absences is necessary to maintain the country's economic competitiveness [1].
The proposal drew an immediate response from the government. Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government, rejected the idea of reducing benefits, saying, "Los derechos no se recortan" — rights are not cut [4].
Feijóo's comments in the Basque Country emphasize a push for stricter labor regulations to curb the costs associated with health-related absences. He said that the scale of the issue is something Spain cannot permit [2].
“"Es un cáncer que no podemos pagar."”
This clash reflects a fundamental ideological struggle over the Spanish welfare state. By framing sick leave as an economic drain rather than a social right, the Partido Popular is signaling a shift toward more restrictive labor policies aimed at increasing productivity and reducing public spending. The government's refusal to entertain pay cuts suggests that labor protections remain a primary political pillar for the current administration, ensuring that any future change in leadership would likely trigger a significant overhaul of worker benefits.
