German Coalition’s Working-Hour Overhaul Could Permit 13-Hour Days as Business and Unions Clash
11.06.2026 - 07:57:19 | boerse-global.de
The German government is preparing a fundamental rewrite of the country’s working-hours law, a shift that would allow employees to toil up to 13 hours on a given day under certain conditions. The planned reform, expected to be introduced as a bill in June by the black-red coalition, would scrap the current strict daily caps of eight and ten hours in favor of a weekly maximum aligned with the European Union’s Working Time Directive.
The EU directive permits up to 13 hours of work within a 24-hour window, provided the worker enjoys an uninterrupted 11-hour rest period. Labour scientists, however, have long warned that productivity drops sharply beyond the tenth hour and accident risks climb.
At a high-level meeting on June 10 in the chancellery, the two sides squared off. Employer representatives demanded more flexibility to keep Germany competitive, while unions denounced the plans as an erosion of the eight-hour day that would endanger workers’ health.
Extended working hours bring increased safety risks that every employer needs to manage. UK businesses can strengthen their compliance position with a free Health & Safety Toolkit that includes ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists, and templates covering key regulations. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
Overtime Clauses Under Fire
Separate from the legislative overhaul, German courts have continued to tighten the screws on employers who try to bundle overtime pay into base salaries. Blanket clauses in standard-form contracts that cover all extra hours without specifying the amount of unpaid overtime owed are typically invalid, judges have ruled.
The financial stakes are significant. In one recent case, a warehouse manager was awarded over €9,500 gross for roughly 968 hours of overtime after his contract’s compensation clause was struck down by a court. When no valid agreement exists, the law implies that compensation has been tacitly accepted because the work could only reasonably be expected in exchange for pay.
Strict Rules for Minijob Hours Accounts
Even for marginal employment—so-called Minijobs—the rules remain tight. Employers can set up working-time accounts for these workers, but they must keep an eye on the entire year. The regular monthly wage must stay at or below €603, or €7,236 annually on average. Building up permanent time credits is prohibited; extra hours must be balanced with time off within a few months, or the employee risks losing their favourable social insurance status.
EU Pay Transparency Deadline Missed
Meanwhile, Berlin is facing mounting pressure from Brussels. The June 7 deadline for implementing the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive passed without action from the German government. Penalties could follow. The directive requires companies to publish salary ranges in job advertisements and gives workers a broad right to ask about pay for comparable roles. The government now says it will fully transpose the rules by early 2027.
Can You Watch the World Cup on the Job?
As the football World Cup kicks off on Thursday, legal experts have a clear answer: employees have no automatic right to follow matches during work hours or take leave on game days. Streaming matches or listening to the radio requires the employer’s express or tacit permission. Violating company bans or skipping work without notice can lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal.
