French premier flags ‘very worrying’ rise in sick leave

ISTANBUL

France's prime minister on Friday called a national rise in sick leave “very worrying,”​​​​​​​ warning that it could worsen the public deficit.

“We have a very worrying drift in the budgetary impact of sick leave. If we address it too late in the year, no action will be possible, useful, or effective,” Sebastien Lecornu said, stressing the need to control sick leave “whatever happens.”

The French National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam) reported that it paid around €10.2 billion ($11.7 billion) in daily sick leave benefits in 2023, significantly higher than before the COVID‑19 crisis, and expenses have continued to grow, according to data from the fund and health authorities.

In 2025, only about 230,000 checks were carried out by labor inspectors on some 9 million sick leave cases, figures showed.

The government has held multiple meetings with private doctors and considered sanctions for over‑prescription of sick leave in its social and fiscal fraud bill, but the measure was dropped to calm tensions in the sector.

France’s social security deficit stood at €21.6 billion in 2025, including €15.9 billion for the health branch.