The German government led by Friedrich Merz announced a proposal that could radically change the working day, undermining one of the country’s most deeply rooted social achievements: the eight hours of work a day.
The plan, included last year in the coalition contract, essentially aims to replace the daily limit with a new weekly limit, set at a maximum of 48 hours, in line with European regulations (which allow up to 48 hours per week, provided that you respect 11 hours of rest between one shift and another and have at least one day off). An initiative that would be based on the need to stimulate productivity, slowed down by Germany’s current economic stalemate, but which has sparked a fierce controversy.
We talked about it here: Germany towards the short week (but not as you might think)
While on the one hand for the Government, the increase in working hours is essential to combat the decline in the country’s competitiveness and respond to the demographic crisis and the passage of baby boomers retired, on the other hand those proposals raise fears, particularly for the most vulnerable workers.
Work harder to compete more?
According to supporters of the reform, Germany is now far from being at its maximum employment potential. In 2023, German workers logged an average of 1,036 hours per year, which is lower than in countries like Greece. However, this analysis clashes with fears that increasing hours could result in exploitation for workers and serious harm to health. The sectors that are likely to suffer the strongest impact are tourism, catering and healthcare, where the working day could lengthen by up to 12 hours.
The government justified the measure with the aim of offering greater flexibility to businesses, but the reactions were not long in coming. The proposal for longer working hours is not welcomed by the unions, who warn that such a move could increase the risk of exploitation and damage the psychophysical health of workers.
Unions ready to mobilize
The proposal to change the eight-hour working law sparked an immediate response from the trade union front. The DGB confederation, the Ver.di services union and IG Metall have already announced strikes and mobilizations against a reform that they consider harmful to the well-being of workers. Unions warn that the new provisions could accentuate gender inequality in the world of work, particularly affecting women, who already find themselves having to deal with excessive workloads and a difficult balance between private and professional life.
There Hans-Böckler Foundationclose to the unions, warned against the risk of an increase in excessive workloads, with a devastating impact on workers’ health and their quality of life. Furthermore, there are fears that the government is trying to reduce the use of part-time work, which reached 40% in Germany in 2025. In short, with Merz’s plan, what seemed like an established reality – the eight hours of work a day – is now the subject of heated debate, with potential consequences for the working lives of millions of people in Germany.
The criticisms and concerns raised by trade unions and workers’ rights organizations highlight a crucial issue: the balance between productivity and workers’ well-being. If the German government were to push forward with this plan, it would face growing social and trade union opposition, with possible impacts on the country’s political stability.
It goes without saying, therefore, that the battle over work in Germany is not just about numbers or productivity, but about the quality of work and people’s living conditions, an issue that transcends political borders and which could rewrite the rules of the job market (not just German) in the coming years.
