The German government announced plans to require in-person medical consultations from the first day of illness, ending the practice of obtaining sick notes by telephone. The measure, part of a broader budget package agreed by the conservative–SPD coalition, is intended to reduce workplace absences that Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as a competitive disadvantage for Europe’s largest economy. According to the Berlin-based IGES Institut, German employees took an average of 19.5 sick days in 2024, up from 13 in 2018, a rise partly attributed to the introduction of an electronic sick-note system that improved reporting. The reform is scheduled to take effect in January 2026.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) detailed four mandatory steps for cancelling a work permit, including an employer declaration confirming that all worker entitlements have been settled. The ministry also stressed that probation periods cannot be extended beyond the initial term, even after a change in company management, citing Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. A public consultation on simplifying work permit procedures, part of a digital transformation drive, remains open until 30 July. Viewed from Abu Dhabi, the measures aim to enhance labour market efficiency while codifying the rights of both employees and employers.

Iranian labour regulations, as outlined by a workers’ rights activist, distinguish between leave types compensated by the employer—such as annual leave, marriage leave, and hourly leave—and those paid by the Social Security Organization, including sick leave and maternity leave. Unpaid leave suspends both salary and insurance contributions, and unused annual leave must be settled financially at the end of a contract. In Indonesia, the national health insurance agency BPJS Kesehatan clarified that workers in the wage-earner segment can add fourth children, parents, or in-laws as dependants, with additional premiums deducted from monthly salaries. The agency stated that the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional programme now covers over 282 million participants, with the government pushing toward universal coverage.

In the United States, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlighted protections for military service members facing eviction. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, those paying monthly rent below $4,214.28 can request a court to suspend eviction proceedings for up to 90 days while on active duty. The bureau advises tenants to file a written response to any eviction lawsuit and to contact their Legal Assistance Office. The German sick-leave reform is expected to be implemented next January, while the UAE consultation closes at the end of July, and Iran’s leave provisions remain governed by long-standing labour law.