Germany's 73.5-Hour Workweek Plan for Tourism Sparks Union Fury as Mercedes Delays Bonuses
28.06.2026 - 07:36:22 | boerse-global.de
The German government is preparing a sweeping relaxation of working-time limits for the tourism sector, a move that would allow employees to work up to 13 hours a day and 73.5 hours a week. The draft legislation, introduced by CDU politician Christoph Ploß in the tourism committee, is intended to boost the industry’s competitiveness by accommodating seasonal peaks. Parliamentary debate is scheduled for autumn 2026, with the new rules taking effect on 1 January 2027.
The proposals come as other parts of the economy show signs of strain. Mercedes-Benz has postponed a contractual bonus worth 18.4 percent of a month’s salary for around 90,000 employees until 2027. The carmaker’s management is also suggesting an extension of the 35-hour workweek without wage compensation. The reason: profits collapsed from €10.4 billion in 2024 to €5.3 billion in 2025, and the first quarter of 2026 saw a further 17.2 percent drop in group earnings.
Unions have reacted with alarm to the tourism working-time reform. The Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG) and the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) reject the expansion outright. First discussion events are planned in Hamburg for early July. Critics warn that the eight-hour day—a core protection for workers—is being eroded, and that social standards could be hollowed out.
Parallel conflicts are emerging at the European level. The deadline for implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive passed on 7 June 2026 without a complete national law. Meanwhile, the DGB and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have voiced concerns about the planned corporate form “EU Inc.,” which would allow digital company registration in 48 hours with no minimum capital. They fear it could weaken co-determination rights.
Further tension comes from a recommendation by Germany’s pension commission to abolish Minijobs, the country’s minor-employment scheme. The German Retail Federation (HDE) warns that up to 800,000 jobs could be lost. The DEHOGA hospitality association notes that roughly 1.1 million people work on a Minijob basis in the hotel and restaurant sector, where the monthly earnings threshold is currently €603. The Mittelstandsunion points out that abolition would hit people using Minijobs as secondary income or during training. Employers already pay 15 percent into pension insurance and 13 percent into health insurance for these jobs. Austria, by contrast, is freezing its equivalent threshold at €551.10 until the end of 2027 and gradually raising the employer contribution rate to 23 percent.
On a brighter note for the travel industry, the German Travel Security Fund (DRSF) will cut its levy from 0.5 to 0.25 percent of turnover from 1 November 2026. That saves the sector around €70 million annually while continuing to protect about 24 million travelers.
Chancellor Merz has also announced further reforms: a tax-free retirement savings account from 2027 and a consistent application of the “connexity principle” for federal benefit laws, which requires the federal government to cover costs it imposes on states and municipalities.
