Pediatricians in Germany are calling for an abolition of sick leave for children with minor illnesses. Up until now, parents have had to present a medical certificate on the child's first day of illness.

The health insurance company then covers a large part of the loss of earnings and pays child sickness benefit - usually 90 percent of the lost net wages. “Parents can manage harmless illnesses themselves,” says the president of the pediatricians’ association BVKJ, Michael Hubmann.