Eight-hour day: Merz is planning radical working time reform for Germany!

Eight-hour day: Merz is planning radical working time reform for Germany!

In Germany, the working time model could soon change fundamentally. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has initiated the discussion about abolishing the eight-hour day and criticized the fact that Germans do not work enough. The government plans to allow longer working hours to increase productivity and maintain the country's prosperity. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann supports these initiatives and emphasizes the importance of active citizen engagement. The new strategy is intended to particularly benefit families with children and relatives in need of care, fr.de reports.

The existing eight-hour day, which has been in effect in Germany since 1918, could be replaced by a more flexible system based on weekly working hours. While the EU sets a maximum weekly working time of 48 hours, Germany could lift the daily limit. A possible new regulation could allow four ten-hour days per week. Interestingly, an Ipsos poll shows that 46% of respondents support maximum weekly working hours, while 44% are against it. A YouGov survey also shows that 37% of Germans would prefer to work four ten-hour days, while 28% prefer the traditional eight-hour day.

The path to more flexible working hours

The reform of working hours aims to provide more flexibility in order to meet the requirements of modern working environments. Particularly in creative and international areas, a weekly view of working hours is an important measure. Employees could work longer on certain days, which enables them to finish earlier or take time off on other days. This new regulation is also intended to integrate dialogue with social partners and the preservation of existing rest periods, so that established limits for overtime and working hours continue to be maintained. In the current context, companies are suffering from structural weakness in growth, which underlines the urgency of such reforms arbeits-abc.de.

The flexibilization proposed by the government could be seen as a response to the changing working environment, which is characterized by digital transformation and home office. According to the article by einstein1.net, digital tools such as Microsoft365 and Zoom have contributed significantly to shaping this new world of work. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into processes to increase efficiency and minimize errors. The expectation for employees to continually expand their digital skills is another part of the current discussion.

Opportunities and risks

The planned reform could particularly benefit workers in flexible jobs, while workers in services, trade or care may lose out. This danger exists because there is already an acute shortage of personnel in many of these industries. The reform could lead to overtime without adequate compensation, causing psychological stress, particularly in jobs where workers have little say. The BKK Health Report 2024 also illustrates the increase in mental illnesses in these flexible but less structured working environments arbeits-abc.de.

The future of work is dynamic and will also be shaped by the challenges of a changing social model. Digital skills, innovative thinking patterns and a focus on employee well-being are now in demand. It remains to be seen what the implementation of the reforms will look like in the coming years and what impact they will have on society as a whole.