Overview
- Germany’s labor ministry is drafting a bill for June that would shift legal protection from a fixed eight-hour day to a weekly limit.
- A Forsa survey for Stern and RTL found 57% of respondents back replacing the daily cap with a weekly maximum that allows longer days offset by shorter ones.
- IW director Michael Hüther argued the change fits a service economy and modern family life, while Labor Minister Bärbel Bas signaled caution even as the coalition has pledged an update.
- Unions and labor researchers warned of health risks and more pressure at home, citing scenarios that could allow very long single days or even a six-day week totaling 73.5 hours in extreme cases.
- The proposal must follow the EU’s 48-hour weekly ceiling and still pass parliament, and its impact will hinge on safeguards such as rest rules, time tracking, and the reach of collective agreements.