Germany’s police union has voiced strong opposition to proposals that would extend the working lives of public sector employees, including police officers. Sven Hüber, national chairman of the Gewerkschaft der Polizei (GdP), stated unequivocally that the union rejects any plan requiring officers to work an additional five and a half years.
Hüber argued that officers already face significant health risks related to their profession, pointing to data suggesting personnel in shift and operational roles have a lower average life expectancy, despite being initially fit and healthy upon recruitment. He cited the hazardous nature of the work, irregular and demanding shift patterns and overall high levels of stress as contributing factors.
The union’s response follows a recent study by the Pestel Institute, which suggested extending the working lives of public sector employees beyond those in other industries, based on differing average life expectancies between professions. The study also noted that civil servants currently work longer hours – up to 41 per week – compared to other public sector and industrial workers.
Rather than extending working lives, Hüber urged the government to focus on maximizing existing workforce potential. He advocated for increased investment in early childhood education and care, further investment in the education system and improved vocational training opportunities. He also called for streamlined measures to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers, arguing that these steps would be more beneficial to society than simply demanding longer working lives from the current workforce.