Unions have sharply criticized the federal government’s plans to amend the Working Hours Act and warned that protests and strikes may follow.
Frank Werneke, national chair of the service‑sector union Verdi, told “Bild” that the unions are ready to fight to preserve the law “in the factories and on the streets”. He warned that the proposed changes would give employers a legal “green light” to squeeze ever more from workers who are already increasingly burdened and overworked, “without regard for their health”.
Robert Feiger, national chair of the industrial union Bauen‑Agrar‑Umwelt, also opposes any amendment to the act. He told “Bild” that the eight‑hour day is not a relic of the past but a cornerstone of social justice. “Those who shake it risk chaos rather than progress” he said. Feiger added that easing the law would mainly disadvantage employees who are not covered by collective agreements: for them it would mean longer workdays, less recovery time, and more pressure.