German employers push for weekly working hour limits
Rainer Dulger, head of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, has called for the introduction of a weekly cap on working hours, arguing it would provide greater flexibility for both staff and employers while aligning Germany with other European nations. Speaking to the German press agency, Dulger noted that most EU countries utilise the flexibility permitted under the EU Working Time Directive, a practice Germany currently avoids. He argued that if weekly caps were inherently dangerous, workers in Belgium and Italy would suffer from higher rates of work-related illness, yet he claimed sickness rates in those countries remain lower than in Germany. German labour law currently mandates an eight-hour workday, which can be extended to ten hours provided the average is balanced over a six-month period. The EU directive sets a maximum of 48 hours per week. Dulger claimed that a significant portion of union members support a weekly limit, describing current laws as relics of the era of telex machines and rotary phones that fail to account for modern realities like remote work and childcare schedules. In mid-July, Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that Labour Minister Bärbel Bas would present reform proposals this autumn. While the coalition of Christian and Social Democratic parties previously agreed to explore weekly caps, trade unions have warned against abandoning the eight-hour day. Dulger also called for measures to prevent abuse of the disability system, stating that while those genuinely ill should not face financial hardship, the system should not be exploited. The governing coalition has also agreed to abolish telephone-based sick notes, proposing that medical certificates be required from the first day of illness rather than the current fourth day, a move that has met with significant opposition. Concluding his remarks, Dulger called for broader reforms, criticising the government for lacking a compelling narrative and imposing burdens on the public without clear justification.