Germany’s Proposed 48-Hour Workweek Sparks Fierce Union Backlash

Germany’s coalition government is pushing forward with plans to replace the legally mandated eight-hour workday with a weekly cap of 48 hours—and in exceptional cases, up to 73.5 hours. The proposal, which aims to inject flexibility into the country’s rigid labor laws, has drawn sharp condemnation from trade unions, who warn it would devastate work-life balance and safety.

The Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG) issued a stark warning on Thursday, arguing that longer shifts would disproportionately burden families, single parents, and employees caring for relatives. The union pointed to glaring gaps in childcare infrastructure as a key obstacle. In Düsseldorf, for instance, only 40 percent of children under three have access to a daycare spot, while actual demand stands at 51 percent. Similar shortfalls plague rural areas: the district of Uelzen in Lower Saxony offers places for just 35 percent of toddlers, against a need of 53 percent, and in Gotha, Thuringia, the 54 percent coverage rate falls short of the 64 percent required.

“Without adequate childcare, ten- to twelve-hour workdays are simply unworkable,” the NGG said in a statement.

Health Risks and a Broken Bargain

Beyond social strain, the union highlighted mounting evidence that extended shifts pose serious health risks. According to NGG data, the risk of workplace accidents doubles after twelve hours of continuous work compared to a standard eight-hour day. Rather than expanding working hours, the union demanded more investment in daycare facilities and improved working conditions.

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The criticism comes as the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) also took aim at the government’s National Action Plan on collective bargaining coverage. DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi called the plan insufficient to meet EU targets. Germany’s collective bargaining coverage currently sits at 49 percent—far below the 80 percent threshold that triggers mandatory EU action for member states.

The DGB opposes any dilution of the Working Hours Act and warns of a “breach of the dam” following recent increases in weekly hours for civil servants. Hamburg and Brandenburg have already raised public-sector working time to 41 hours, following Bremen’s earlier move.

Bakers Push for Sunday Loosening

While unions press the brakes, the skilled trades sector is demanding more leeway. Handwerk President Jörg Dittrich renewed calls on Thursday to scrap the so-called “Sunday baking ban.” Current law permits bakeries just three hours of baking on Sundays and public holidays.

The coalition plans to change this by January 1, 2027, allowing up to five hours of baking plus three hours for delivery. No draft legislation has been tabled yet. Dittrich stressed that the sector does not seek to abolish the eight-hour day outright but needs flexibility—pointing out that petrol stations can already bake on Sundays without such restrictions.

Industry Squeeze Fuels Tensions

Pressure is also mounting in manufacturing. In the automotive sector, companies including Mercedes have recently called for a return to the 40-hour week without wage compensation. Germany’s industrial output has fallen roughly 15 percent below 2018 levels, and the auto industry alone shed around 50,000 jobs in 2025.

Business leaders, such as the CEO of components supplier Aumovio, argue that longer hours are a necessary response to the crisis. The IG Metall union has flatly rejected such demands. The clash underscores a deepening fault line between the push for economic flexibility and the protection of long-established worker rights.

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