German Minister of the Environment, Verena Hubertz, Challenges Chancellor’s Call for Longer Working Hours
German Minister of the Environment, Verena Hubertz, has expressed disagreement with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s suggestion that Germans should work more. In an interview with RTL and ntv on Wednesday, Hubertz stated, “I think that’s a bit off the mark.”
Hubertz emphasized the need to address the limitations faced by many women in the workforce, who are often trapped in part-time jobs due to the lack of adequate childcare facilities. “Many women would like to work more, but they’re stuck in part-time jobs because the childcare facilities can’t keep up. We need to make sure there’s proper childcare in place” she said.
The minister also highlighted the issue of unpaid overtime, pointing out that many people work excessive hours without compensation. “There are a lot of people who work a lot of overtime and it’s not paid” Hubertz stated. She argued that the focus should be on identifying who can actually work more, citing the example of a craftsman who may not be able to work beyond a certain age, whereas a professional like an architect or the Chancellor may be able to continue working longer.
Hubertz’s remarks come as a response to the Chancellor’s call for Germans to work more, which has been met with skepticism by some in the government and opposition.