Regulatory Update Reduces Administrative Burdens for Temporary Disability Procedures
New rules take effect on April 1 and are designed to streamline how temporary disability matters are handled. The key change is an exemption for workers from the obligation to hand over temporary sick leave documents and extensive health reports to their employers. Instead, electronic communications initiated by the SGK will become the primary channel for transmitting relevant information, a shift that aims to reduce distrust among both employers and unions and to ensure systems run smoothly without glitches.
The regulation, approved upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, clarifies several aspects of managing and monitoring temporary disability processes. It specifies that only one copy of medical discharge and discharge reports will be provided to workers, with the second copy directed to the company and subsequently eliminated. This change shifts responsibility away from employees for delivering and communicating reports, thereby simplifying the workflow for workers and employers alike.
Starting April 1, direct telematics-based communication between SGK and companies will be established. This measure, described by the ministry as a way to bypass procedures that can frustrate individuals on temporary disability, also leverages the efficiency gains offered by digitalization and modern information technology. In short, the aim is to reduce administrative friction while maintaining accurate records.
Beyond cutting bureaucracy, the initiative focuses on removing procedures that can be particularly irritating for people dealing with temporary disability. The new regulations also allow medical staff to set shorter review times when appropriate, depending on how the process progresses. This flexibility is intended to accelerate case resolution without compromising care quality.
From the ministry’s perspective, these changes should bring tangible benefits to companies, employees, and doctors within the health system. While early signals point to overall advantages, both companies and unions acknowledge concerns about how the changes will be implemented in practice. Salvador Navarro, president of the Valencian Community Business Confederation, cautions that the government’s unilateral approach may sidestep input from businesses. He notes that timely communication between parties will largely depend on the public health system and stresses that employers must have enough time to reorganize operations when a worker’s sick leave becomes known. If notification arrives late, there is little room to respond effectively.
Unions share the general intent of improving processes but have questions about execution. Paco García, general secretary of CC OO for the l’Alacantí-Les Marines area, says the idea is sound but will hinge on whether computer systems can handle the data integration reliably and without crashes that could harm workers or employers. He also argues that doctors should not bear the entire administrative burden alone and suggests increasing administrative staffing in health facilities to free clinicians for patient care. Garcia emphasizes that easier formalization of registration and discharge reports would benefit patients and the system overall.
Yaissel Sánchez, secretary-general of UGT, agrees that the measure is positive for reducing bureaucracy and leveraging new technologies, provided that all teams adapt properly by the April 1 implementation deadline. He urges careful attention to the transition so that employers, unions, and health professionals experience a smooth shift to the telematics-based framework.
The overall intention behind the regulation is to modernize the workflow surrounding temporary disability, improve transparency, and enhance efficiency for all stakeholders. By reducing redundant steps and focusing on reliable digital communications, the policy seeks to support timely and accurate information flow that is essential for workplace planning and patient care. While the changes carry potential for real improvements, observers agree that effective execution will require ongoing collaboration among ministries, health services, unions, and employers to align technology with practical, on-the-ground needs and to address any emerging issues quickly and transparently. Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.