German Bakers Demand End to Sunday Baking Limit as Coalition Weighs Labor Law Reforms
11.06.2026 - 00:13:22 | boerse-global.de
The German bakery trade association is pushing to scrap a three-hour cap on Sunday baking, arguing the restriction no longer fits modern production needs. The demand comes as top representatives from unions, employers and the ruling coalition met on Wednesday for three hours in the Chancellery to debate labor market reforms, including cutting red tape, boosting competitiveness and tackling the skilled-worker shortage.
Participants included Friedrich Merz, Markus Söder, Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil, as well as senior figures from the BDA, BDI, DIHK and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts. On the union side, the DGB, IG Metall, IG BCE and Ver.di sent representatives. Ver.di warned against cuts to pensions and social benefits, insisting that pension adjustments must remain linked to real wage growth. Business leaders, by contrast, pushed for consistent relief on taxes and social security contributions.
The president of the Social Association VdK also rejected blanket austerity and instead proposed adjustments to inheritance and wealth taxes. An economic advisory body urged a coherent package to generate stronger growth.
Under current labor law, bakeries are only allowed to bake for a maximum of three hours on Sundays and public holidays. The craft sector wants that limit removed entirely to allow more flexible production schedules. The coalition agreement between the Union and SPD parties already envisages expanding the list of exceptions in the Working Hours Act, which could create scope for longer Sunday work in artisan businesses.
The debate unfolds against a backdrop of structural change in the bakery industry. In 2025, 448 new bakeries were founded—40 more than the previous year. Yet the total number of outlets fell to roughly 8,660 nationwide, a sharp drop from more than 12,000 a decade ago. Sales still rose 1.3 percent to €18.14 billion, but employment slipped 1.4 percent to about 232,000 workers. A shortage of skilled labor and mounting economic pressure are reshaping the sector.
The issue of Sunday rest is being tested in other arenas as well. Germany’s Federal Court of Justice recently upheld a ruling on Sunday openings in outlet centers, noting that the regulatory environment needed updating. In Switzerland, the Council of States narrowly rejected a proposal on Tuesday to expand permit-free Sunday sales.
Additional pressure comes from Saxony, where a latest survey by the state’s crafts chamber found only one-third of businesses rating their current situation as good, with a significant share expecting further deterioration. Further rounds of talks between the coalition and social partners have already been scheduled.
