Runaway absenteeism threatens the survival of SMEs and the self-employed
Businessmen demand to recover dismissal for repeated absences, to rethink salary supplements for temporary incapacity from collective agreements and for mutual insurance companies to be able to propose workers' registration. Read
Spanish businesses are warning that rampant absenteeism threatens the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the self-employed. The companies are demanding the return of firing employees for repeated absences, reinstating salary supplements for temporary incapacity under collective agreements, and allowing mutual insurance companies to propose worker dismissals.
The business alarm is rising due to the surge in unexplained absenteeism and the growing cost burden on companies and public coffers. On average, 1.6 million employees (1.2 million due to temporary incapacity processes) miss work each day, and the economic impact continues to escalate. Last year alone, this amounted to over 34 billion euros in Social Security benefits and the portion paid by companies, in addition to salary supplements.
Forecasts anticipate a reversal of these costs in 2026, with an 8.6% increase, pointing to a potential reversal in expenses linked to this issue. Business organizations are urging the future government to address measures to curb the impact, which is particularly acute for small businesses, potentially jeopardizing their viability.
SMEs, which make up 99% of Spain's productive fabric, many of them microenterprises with fewer than five employees (close to a million according to Ministry of Labor statistics), struggle to replace absent workers and may face business collapse.
Written by urgent.news from Expansion ES's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
