According to SPD spokeswoman Annika Klose, the Bavarian premier Markus Söder’s call for an extra hour of work per week is misguided. She told RTL and ntv that it is unfair to imply that workers are lazy or unwilling to contribute more. Klose argued that “the Germans already do a lot; very few are reluctant to put in an extra hour”.
She added that the issue of working time is not determined by one politician but must be negotiated between social partners-trade unions and employer associations. In her view, Söder’s proposal is “a bit out of place”.
Klose noted that many people would like to work full‑time but are prevented by high costs for childcare in Bavaria, which is prohibitive for many families and forces them into part‑time jobs. She described the practice of blaming workers as “insulting” and suggested that Söder’s demand might be an attempt to divert attention from other matters ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.