Spain's main trade unions and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have pushed back against opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo after he labeled workplace absenteeism a "cancer" and questioned why workers on sick leave receive full pay. Feijóo made the remarks on Tuesday before Basque business leaders, prompting a swift political backlash.
CCOO chief Unai Sordo dismissed claims that 40% of sick leave in Spain constitutes fraud, attributing longer absences instead to strains on the public health system. UGT's Pepe Álvarez noted that sectors with collective bargaining provisions for medical leave actually record fewer absences. Sánchez, speaking from Ankara, called the remarks "absolutely unfortunate" and accused the conservative People's Party of stigmatizing ill workers.
The People's Party later walked back the comments, with officials clarifying that Feijóo referred only to fraudulent cases, not legitimate sick leave. Regional PP figures and even the far-right Vox party distanced themselves from the original rhetoric.