The economic wing of the CDU plans to abolish the statutory right to part‑time work. At the party’s federal congress at the end of February, a motion titled “No statutory right to lifestyle part‑time” is expected to be adopted, according to “Stern”.
The Moderate Union of the Middle Class and Economy (MIT) is demanding that the right to part‑time work remain in place only when a “special justification” exists-such as raising children, caring for relatives, or pursuing further education.
MIT chair Gitta Connemann told “Stern”: “If people can work more, they should. Extra social benefits are meant for genuine exceptional situations, not for the normal case”. She added that part‑time work is appropriate and necessary for families, for care, and for health, but that a severe shortage of skilled workers also exists. “Therefore we must make a clear distinction: voluntary part‑time for personal life design must not be routinely secured by the state” she claimed.
Under current German law, every employee has a statutory right to part‑time work provided the employment relationship has lasted more than six months and the employer has more than 15 employees. Unless the company explicitly opposes, it must agree to a part‑time request. The motion argues that the solidarity principle should not fund the work‑life balance of “up‑graders”.
The criticism stems from the fact that those who voluntarily reduce their hours receive the same full benefits while contributing less into the social system. This point was recently raised by Andreas Gassen, chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.