Germany's Coalition at Odds Over 48-Hour Work Week as Bundestag Vote Nears

The push to scrap Germany’s daily eight-hour limit on working time is deepening a rift between the governing coalition partners, with a parliamentary showdown scheduled for June 26. The debate arrives against a grim economic backdrop: thousands of steelworkers marched in Berlin and Völklingen on Friday to protest the threat of mass job cuts, after raw steel production tumbled to 34.1 million tonnes in 2025.

Jens Spahn, leader of the Union parliamentary group, is urging the SPD to honor the coalition agreement that promised to replace the daily cap with a weekly maximum of 48 hours. "Companies and employees need more flexibility to revive growth," Spahn said, adding that he opposes any increase in social benefits until the economy registers a meaningful upturn. He insists the planned changes comply with the EU Working Time Directive.

The SPD, however, is treading cautiously. Lawmaker Jan Dieren pushed back, arguing that the coalition contract never called for abolishing the eight-hour day entirely. He also pointed to EU law, which mandates an uninterrupted rest period of eleven hours between shifts. "Our goal is to strengthen workers' self-determination, not to widen employers' room to maneuver," Dieren said.

For UK employers, staying on top of working-time compliance is just one piece of a wider health and safety puzzle. A free toolkit offers ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists and templates that help you meet your legal duties under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and other UK regulations. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

Despite the friction, the Federal Ministry of Labour, headed by Bärbel Bas, expects to present a concrete bill by the end of June. The draft would replace the current daily limit with a weekly ceiling of 48 hours, which the government argues would improve work-life balance. Employer associations welcome the reform as a boost to international competitiveness, but the unions are pushing back hard. DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi warned that the shift would tilt power toward employers and advised against the move.

The fight over working time is not the only strain on the coalition. Germany's pension insurance system has flagged rising contribution rates: planned cuts to federal subsidies in 2027 could push the rate to 18.8 percent. Meanwhile, Health Minister Nina Warken is defending her health reform against sharp criticism from the pharmaceutical industry, which warns it could trigger billions in investment cuts. Despite the objections, Warken is sticking to the law. The second and third readings of both the working-time bill and the health reform are set for June 26 in the Bundestag.

en | boerse | 69539531 |