UK PM Sunak to consult on tougher rules to combat 'sick note culture'

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks outside Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain April, 17, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will look at tightening the rules for long-term sick leave in a bid to reverse a rise in the number of Britons who have permanently dropped out of the workforce.

Labour force participation among working-age Britons is its lowest since 2015, due to a rise in long-term illness and a greater number of students, in contrast to other large, rich nations which have seen increased participation since 2020.