Germany’s Working Time Overhaul: Up to 13-Hour Days on the Table as Coalition and Unions Clash
12.06.2026 - 15:17:09 | boerse-global.de
Work-life balance in Germany could face a dramatic shift if the federal government pushes through a change from daily to weekly working-hour limits. Under the plan, a single workday might legally stretch to 13 hours so long as the weekly total stays within bounds — a prospect that has sparked fierce opposition from labour unions and worker representatives.
The reform, championed by Labour Minister Bärbel Bas, would scrap the long-standing daily cap of eight hours in favour of a weekly maximum aligned with the European Working Time Directive. Business groups and Chancellor Friedrich Merz argue the move is overdue to boost flexibility and competitiveness, especially after 150,000 industrial jobs vanished in 2025. A three-hour summit inside the Chancellery on June 10 brought together government leaders, union chiefs and employer representatives, but a consensus remains elusive.
Under the new rules, the absolute ceiling on a single shift would be 13 hours — determined by the mandatory 11-hour rest period that follows every working day. Labour law specialists point out, however, that longer hours can only be imposed if they are contractually agreed; employers cannot simply order them arbitrarily. Productivity experts note that after the tenth hour output drops sharply, raising questions about the practical benefits of extended days.
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The coalition intends to ram the entire reform package through parliament before the summer break in mid-July. Other measures bundled with the working-time changes include adjustments to pensions, healthcare and income tax. The coalition committee is due to meet on July 1 to resolve last-minute disputes.
Union leaders have reacted with anger. Verdi chairman Frank Werneke warned after the summit: “Reforms must not lead to social cuts.” He called instead for measures to strengthen purchasing power. The dbb civil servants’ union condemned the proposed 30 percent reduction in pension-insurance contributions for family caregivers — a cut its chair Ulrich Geyer said would undermine trust in the welfare state.
A survey by the Institute for Economic and Social Sciences (WSI) found that three-quarters of employees fear negative consequences for their work-life balance under the new model. Current data already paints an alarming picture: the “Index Gute Arbeit 2025” shows that 43 percent of workers frequently log more than eight hours a day, and nearly half of that group report feeling regularly burned out. WSI expert Dr. Elke Ahlers stressed: “The protection provided by the Working Time Act is more important than ever.”
Older employees are a particular concern. People aged 55 to 64 now account for nearly a quarter of the workforce. Studies indicate they are willing to stay on the job longer — but only under healthier conditions and with greater control over their own schedules. In his government declaration on June 11, Chancellor Merz called on citizens to embrace change. The opposition, however, branded the whole plan an assault on basic social standards.
