Departure or abyss? Government plans to end the eight-hour day!

Departure or abyss? Government plans to end the eight-hour day!

The federal government is planning a fundamental reform of the labor market that will question the eight-hour day that has been enshrined in law since 1919. According to the coalition agreement, the coalition between the Union and the SPD wants to replace the maximum daily working hours with a weekly limit. The aim is to offer employees and companies more flexibility. This has already been recorded in the coalition agreement and corresponds to the desire for a better balance between family and work, in accordance with the requirements of the European Working Time Directive.

The German labor market should therefore adapt to modern requirements and the needs of employees. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasizes the need to work more efficiently in order to address the current staff shortage and economic fluctuations.

Criticism from the left and trade unions

However, the initiative is not only met with approval. Gregor Gysi from the Left expresses serious concerns. He sees the eight-hour day as one of the achievements of social democracy and fears negative effects on the well-being of workers. The DGB also warns of the danger that such a regulation could lead to more unpaid overtime and health problems.

The planned reform could, under certain conditions, allow a ten-hour day four days a week. While 38 percent of respondents to a YouGov survey support the move, 20 percent are against it and 37 percent are neutral. However, expert Nils Backhaus from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety warns that working hours of ten hours or more significantly increase the risk of various illnesses.

Health effects and challenges

The health risks of extended working hours are well documented. Studies show that working hours of ten hours or more per day can promote mental illness, coronary heart disease, metabolic diseases and sleep disorders. The risk of accidents also increases significantly after working for more than twelve hours. At the same time, psychologists fear that longer working hours can reduce employees' performance and satisfaction and lead to conflicts between work and private life.

Despite the possible introduction of longer working days, the Federal Government intends to ensure that weekly working hours do not exceed 48 hours. In stressful phases, you could work up to ten hours a day without exceeding the weekly maximum limit. The contractually agreed working hours must still be adhered to, emphasizes a study on the effects of working hours on health.

The reform is therefore controversial not only from an economic perspective, but also from a health perspective. The German Federation of Trade Unions is calling for more protection for employees and warning of the long-term damage that overwork can cause. The current discussion about the eight-hour day reflects the challenges of the modern working world and shows how important it is to have a corporate culture that values ​​relaxation and health.