Germany Scraps Daily 8-Hour Work Cap as 48-Hour Weekly Limit Sparks Union Fury
14.06.2026 - 00:43:37 | boerse-global.de
Germany’s planned working-time overhaul, which would abolish the decades-old daily maximum of eight hours in favour of a 48-hour weekly ceiling, has drawn sharp criticism from unions and health experts who warn of surging burnout and accident risks.
Labour Minister Bärbel Bas is preparing a draft law, expected to be presented by June 2026, that would eliminate the current daily limit. Under existing rules, employees can work up to eight hours per day across a six-day week—also a maximum of 48 hours—and exceptions allowing ten-hour days must be compensated within six months. The reform would scrap these rigid daily boundaries entirely.
Unions and Scientists Push Back
DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi and Verdi boss Frank Werneke have flatly rejected what they see as a dismantling of worker protections. “Existing collective agreements already offer enough flexibility,” Werneke argued on 11 June. “A change in the law is unnecessary.”
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Their concerns are backed by researchers at the Economic and Social Science Institute (WSI), who have documented a statistically significant increase in accident rates after the eighth hour of work. Health experts also warn that days stretching beyond twelve hours could trigger a wave of burnout cases and deepen conflicts over childcare.
Government and Employers Push for Flexibility
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and employer associations strongly support the plans. In a government statement on 11 June, Merz said the German economy has stagnated since 2019, burdened by high labour costs and bureaucracy. Employer federation president Rainer Dulger called the modernisation of working time “a contribution to international competitiveness”.
Economic Minister Katherina Reiche urged speed on Friday, demanding more working hours and lower payroll taxes to stop further production shifts abroad. “We need a higher total volume of work,” she said.
DIW Chief Warns Against Quantity Over Quality
Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), voiced sharp scepticism on Saturday. He described the proposal as insufficient and cautioned against prioritising the quantity of work over productivity. While selective flexibility makes sense, he argued, sectors such as care, hospitality and events still need clear daily caps.
Timeline: Package to Pass Before Summer Break
The working-time reform is part of a broader package under negotiation between the coalition and social partners since mid-June. A summit at the Chancellery on 10–11 June was constructive, but deep divisions remain on working hours, pensions and tax policy.
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The pension commission will deliver its findings in the third week of June. On 1 July, the coalition committee meets to make far-reaching decisions on labour-market and social reform.
The government aims to pass the entire package by mid-July, with an additional summit for social partners pencilled in for autumn.
