Concerns have been raised by the head of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), Yasmin Fahimi, regarding the planned labor law reform being proposed by the current German government. While acknowledging the importance of flexibility in working arrangements, which are already reflected in numerous collective agreements, Fahimi questioned the underlying motives behind the proposed changes.
She asserted that the reform appears to prioritize increased employer control over employees’ working hours, rather than genuinely improving work-life balance. A key point of contention is the potential removal of the standard eight-hour workday and the extension of the maximum daily working hours, potentially allowing for shifts exceeding twelve hours.
Recent polling conducted by the DGB indicates significant employee resistance to such changes, with 98% of respondents expressing a preference for finishing work no later than 19:00. Fahimi argued that this data contradicts claims that a substantial workforce desires highly fragmented working days.
She explained that while many employees currently work extended hours, this is often due to practical realities within their workplaces or challenges in coordinating work with family commitments, rather than a genuine desire for longer shifts. Fahimi fundamentally opposes any reform of the existing Working Time Act, describing it as a vital safeguard for employee health and protection against overwork and emphasizing its overall effectiveness.
While she supports exploring ways to empower employees in advocating for their preferred working arrangements with employers, suggesting a potential legal entitlement to full-time employment as a possibility, Fahimi dismissed the idea of a legal right to remote work, leaving such decisions to collective bargaining agreements.