Germany Considers Replacing 8-Hour Workday with 48-Hour Weekly Limit

Central News Agency, Berlin, May 30. Germany is planning to reform its 'Working Time Act,' shifting from the current daily limit to a weekly calculation, sparking intense debate. Supporters argue it will boost labor market flexibility and economic competitiveness, while opponents warn it could undermine the core spirit of Germany's century-old labor protection system. The federal government will present a draft in June. Based on the coalition agreement, the act will adopt the EU Working Time Directive model, setting a 48-hour weekly cap rather than strict daily limits. Under current law, workers generally cannot exceed 8 hours a day, extendable to 10 hours in special cases, provided it averages back to 8 hours within 24 weeks. This system is a cornerstone of German labor rights, dating back to post-WWI reforms. The coalition argues the reform addresses changing work patterns. The Merz government believes both businesses and workers desire more flexibility, and the new system will better accommodate seasonal work, shifts, and remote work. However, unions are strongly opposed. DGB Chair Yasmin Fahimi stated, 'We do not want to be taken back to the era before 1918.' Ver.di Chair Frank Werneke criticized the plan as giving employers a blank check to exhaust workers, noting that a weekly system could theoretically allow 13-hour shifts. Supporters argue the 8-hour day is an industrial-era relic ill-suited for modern service economies and dual-income households. IW Director Michael Hüther noted that modern families need different ways to balance work and leisure. Employers' Association President Rainer Dulger also urged acceptance, citing labor shortages and aging as reasons to boost competitiveness through flexible labor rules.