Germany’s Eight-Hour Workday Under Threat as New Government Coalition Considers Abolishing 40-Hour Workweek
Germany’s eight-hour workday, a hard-fought right for workers, is under threat as the newly formed government coalition, led by the CDU’s Friedrich Merz, considers abolishing the 40-hour workweek. The move, which would allow companies to set their own working hours, is seen as a major blow to workers’ rights and a step backward for labor laws in the country.
According to a recent report, the new government’s plans to relax labor laws, which would allow for longer working hours and more flexible work arrangements, are already in the works. The move is being touted as a way to increase flexibility for businesses, but critics argue it would lead to increased exploitation of workers.
The European Union’s working time directive, which sets a maximum of 48 hours of work per week, would be the basis for the new rules. This could lead to a significant erosion of workers’ rights, as companies could set their own working hours, potentially leading to longer working days and reduced breaks.
The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) has already expressed its opposition to the plans, citing the importance of the 40-hour workweek in protecting workers’ health and well-being. The DGB has also pointed to the example of Sweden, where a 40-hour workweek is the norm and Spain, where the government is planning to reduce the maximum weekly working hours to 37.5 hours.
The move is seen as a major victory for the business lobby, which has long pushed for the relaxation of labor laws to increase profits. The German Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is part of the new government coalition, has been criticized for its role in the plans, as it has a history of supporting labor reforms that benefit the business community at the expense of workers.
The plans are also seen as part of a broader strategy to increase the exploitation of workers, with the government considering a new welfare-to-work scheme that would impose harsher sanctions on those who refuse low-paid jobs. The scheme, which would be a rebranded version of the previous Hartz IV system, would aim to force more people into low-wage work and reduce benefits for those who are unemployed.
The move is seen as a major setback for workers’ rights in Germany and a step backward for the country’s labor laws. The plans are expected to be met with opposition from the trade unions and workers and could lead to a wider social and economic crisis in the country.