Union head opposes changes to work hour regulations
In the heart of Europe, Germany finds itself embroiled in a heated debate over the potential reform of its Working Hours Act. The discussion, which has been ongoing since mid-2025, centres around the extension and increase of working hours, largely driven by demographic and pension funding concerns.
At the forefront of opposition to these proposed changes is Yasmin Fahimi, the chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). Fahimi has expressed her concern that abolishing the regular eight-hour day is out of touch with the reality of employees. She argues that pension funding should be supported by increased contributions and tax revenue, rather than by extending working lives.
Economy Minister Katharina Reiche, on the other hand, has publicly advocated for Germans to work longer and more hours to address demographic challenges and maintain social security sustainability. However, her statements have sparked controversy and criticism, with worker representatives arguing that they disregard current coalition agreements and the realities of many physically demanding jobs.
Rainer Dulger, the President of Employers, has called for a swift reform of the Working Hours Act. He believes that a weekly maximum working time is more suitable for the age of digitization than the strict daily maximum working time. Dulger has stated that a weekly maximum working time is needed in Germany immediately.
The industry, according to Dulger, has largely exhausted the possibilities for flexibilization. He is not alone in this belief, as social partners already agree on flexible working hours in thousands of collective agreements. However, these agreements do not extend to all employees, and Vassiliadis, the head of the Industrial Union of Mining, Chemistry, and Energy (IG BCE), has rejected a reform of the Working Hours Act.
Vassiliadis has threatened possible legal action, stating that if necessary, the question of flexibilization of working hours will be brought before German and European courts. He has also expressed concern that changing the Working Hours Act would further divide the workforce and have dramatic consequences for employees without protection from collective agreements.
The pressure from employers would increase if the Working Hours Act is reformed, according to Vassiliadis. However, he states that changing the Working Hours Act would have no effect where collective agreements apply. This is in line with the European Working Time Directive, which states that after the daily working time, employees must have an uninterrupted rest period of at least eleven hours.
A dialogue with the social partners has begun on the concrete design of this change. The coalition agreement between Union and SPD states that they want to create the possibility of a weekly instead of a daily maximum working time. However, as of mid-2025, there is no official reform of the German Working Hours Act introducing a statutory weekly maximum working hours.
In conclusion, the debate over the Working Hours Act reform in Germany is a complex issue, with trade unions strongly opposing any increases in working hours or retirement age, while employers and the Economy Ministry see longer working hours and extended working lives as necessary responses to the country's aging population and economic competitiveness challenges. The future of this debate remains uncertain, with potential legal action threatened and a dialogue with social partners ongoing.
- The industry, along with some employers, has argued for a reform of the Working Hours Act to implement a weekly maximum working time, citing the age of digitization as a factor that necessitates such a change.
- Trade unions, including the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), have expressed their opposition to such reforms, worrying that prolonging working hours might disregard the realities of employees and ignore the potential solutions in increasing contributions and tax revenue for pension funding.
- In the realm of general news, the debate over the Working Hours Act reform in Germany has been a heated topic, with both supporters and opponents acknowledging the challenges of addressing demographic concerns and maintaining social security sustainability while balancing the well-being of the workforce.
