Conflict Regarding Work Hours Shifts - President Advocates for Change in Employer's Work Policies - Contention Regarding Work Hours - Leader of Reform Among Employers
In Germany, a proposed reform of the Working Hours Act is causing a stir, with Economy Minister Katharina Reiche advocating for longer working hours and extended working life to address demographic and economic challenges [2][3]. However, this position has sparked significant controversy and opposition from trade unions and worker representatives.
Rainer Dulger, President of the Federal Association of German Employers' Associations (BDA), is leading the charge for reform, aiming to accommodate greater flexibility in working hours. Dulger believes the Act, which dates back to the era of telex and rotary dial phones, needs to be updated to meet the demands of the digital age [4].
The BDA's proposal includes shifting the limit from a daily maximum working hours to a weekly maximum, aiming to better reconcile family and work [5]. This change would provide more flexibility in work schedules, allowing employees to better accommodate their personal and professional needs. However, no concrete implementation details or legislative progress are noted in the recent 2025 updates [1][4].
Trade unions, such as the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), argue that social partners agree on flexible working hours in thousands of collective agreements, and that the Working Hours Act in its current form provides sufficient scope for this [6]. They reject a change from a daily to a weekly maximum working time, with DGB Chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi stating that abolishing the regular eight-hour day would be out of touch with the reality of employees [6].
The current Working Hours Act in Germany allows daily working time of employees to be extended to up to ten hours under certain conditions [1]. For jobs where working from home is not possible, such as roofing or assembly line work, Dulger acknowledges that collectively agreed daily working hours still apply [2]. He also clarifies that his proposal is not about abolishing the eight-hour day or making everyone work longer hours [2].
Dulger prefers that social partners retain all their collective bargaining freedoms, including through opt-out clauses [3]. He also believes that employers and trade unions should have the freedom to agree on working hours among themselves, with the legislature providing a suitable legal framework [3]. Dulger also suggests a weekly maximum working time would be more suitable for the digital age [4].
In a May study by the Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor Law, it was stated that the government's plan could allow for daily maximum working hours of more than twelve hours, which could endanger health [7]. However, Dulger believes that there should be more flexibility in rest periods to accommodate employees who need to work outside of traditional hours [3].
In the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD, it is stated that a weekly maximum working time instead of a daily maximum working time is desired [5]. After the end of daily working time, employees must have an uninterrupted rest period of at least eleven hours, which can be reduced under certain conditions [1].
The dialogue on the Working Hours Act began last week between the BDA and the trade unions [1]. However, as of July 2025, no finalized reform shifting from daily to weekly maximum working hours is yet law; further consultations are pending and likely after 2025 [1][4]. Reforms introduced recently focus more on parental leave flexibility, maternity protections, and pension adjustments rather than working hours limits [1][4].
The reform remains a debated proposal without enacted change as of July 2025, reflecting a division between employer/government pressures to increase labor input and union resistance to protect worker rights.
- The BDA, led by Rainer Dulger, is advocating for a reform in Germany's Working Hours Act, suggesting a shift from daily to weekly maximum working hours to accommodate flexibility in the digital age.
- The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), however, is against this proposal, arguing that the current Act provides sufficient scope for flexible working hours and that abolishing the regular eight-hour day would be detrimental to employees.
