Overview
- Left party leader Jan van Aken proposes granting a weekday off whenever a statutory holiday lands on a weekend.
- Green lawmaker Timon Dzienus endorses the plan as fair to employees and consistent with practices in countries such as Belgium, the UK and Poland.
- Union economic wing chief Gitta Connemann dismisses the idea as costly, citing an estimated €8.6 billion in lost output per nationwide day off and warning about competitiveness.
- In 2026, German Unity Day and the Second Day of Christmas fall on a Saturday, while Reformation Day, All Saints’ Day and Berlin/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s International Women’s Day also land on weekend dates.
- The statistics office forecasts 250.5 workdays next year—about 2.4 more than 2025—and there is no legislative proposal yet as employer groups and many commentators voice opposition.