Catalan Minister Miquel Sàmper has emphasised the critical need to distinguish between unjustified work absenteeism and legitimate sick leave. Speaking in Parliament, he argued these concepts are often conflated in public discourse.
Addressing an interpellation on Tuesday, Sàmper responded to People’s Party deputy Àngels Esteller regarding workforce challenges. However, he insisted on protecting workers’ statutory rights to health recovery while acknowledging absenteeism concerns.
Your browser does not support the video tag.Home » Work Absenteeism: Miquel Sàmper Urges Distinction from Sick Leave
Separating work absenteeism from misconduct
Sàmper stated that while his department shares concerns about the economic impact of work absenteeism, the narrative requires nuance. Therefore, he introduced a key distinction.
“It concerns us exactly the same as it concerns you. But I would like to introduce an element that we never say. Absenteeism should be separated from what is a sick leave. Workers who have an illness obviously have a right, enshrined in the Workers’ Statute and in many other places, to be able to get sick,” Sàmper told the chamber.
The Minister argued that prevailing “street discourse” often drifts far from reality. Consequently, his ministry will encourage corporate human resources departments to clearly differentiate between the two phenomena.
“Regarding absenteeism understood as people who do not go to work to avoid going to work, let’s talk, because it obviously harms our industry and our economy,” he said. “But let’s differentiate it from people who have the right, obviously, to get sick.”
Bureaucracy as a ‘tax’ on competitiveness
Meanwhile, the session also addressed the administrative weight carried by Catalan enterprises. Sàmper agreed with Deputy Esteller’s assessment that excessive red tape damages the region’s economic standing.
“Bureaucracy is a tax, because it is a burden, because it is a scourge, I would say,” Sàmper remarked. “It is a scourge that we must be able to improve, because this also reduces our competitiveness.”
In addition, the Government is reportedly taking steps to streamline administrative processes. However, Sàmper cautioned that results would not be immediate due to a complex regulatory environment.
Join Barcelona English Speakers WhatsApp Community .
