German Union Warns Childcare System Could Collapse Under Flexible Working Hours
Published on 07/28/2026 at 22:21 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A major German trade union is pushing back against employer demands for longer workdays, arguing that the country’s already strained childcare and elder care systems would buckle under the pressure. The Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG) issued its warning as the government debates changes to the Working Hours Act.
Regional representatives from Ludwigshafen, Halle and Wuppertal told reporters that extending daily working hours would make it impossible for parents to plan reliable childcare. In Ludwigshafen, daycare slots are available for just 21 percent of children under three, while a study by the German Youth Institute (DJI) puts actual demand at 51 percent. Halle faces a similar shortfall: 54 percent coverage against 63 percent need.
The union also highlighted the burden on workers caring for elderly relatives. According to a survey by the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), 51 percent of women and 41 percent of men look after family members who require nursing care. The NGG pointed to health risks as well, citing research that accident rates double after twelve hours of work. Already, roughly 20 percent of all employees and 42 percent of single parents struggle to balance their jobs with private life.
Employers Push for Longer Hours
Business leaders are taking the opposite stance. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has called for scrapping the 35-hour workweek and extending working hours. The automaker posted an operating profit of €1.55 billion in the second quarter of 2026, a 21.5 percent increase, yet Källenius still warns of cost disadvantages.
On July 26, Philipp von Hirschheydt, head of the company Aumovio, demanded a 40-hour week without wage compensation. In Ingolstadt and Villingen-Schwenningen, companies have already negotiated 38-hour weeks in exchange for investment commitments.
Government Sticks to Eight-Hour Day
Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas reaffirmed in mid-June that the eight-hour day will remain the standard. A draft bill from her ministry would allow flexible weekly hours only under strict conditions, including collective bargaining coverage, health protections and mandatory electronic time tracking. In exceptional cases, a daily maximum of 13 hours would be permitted.
The electronic time-tracking requirement comes with clear deadlines: companies with fewer than 250 employees get two years to comply, while micro-enterprises with under 50 staff have five years. The broader economy must implement the system within one year.
The proposed law would also shorten the compensation period for the 48-hour week from six to four months. Employer associations under president Rainer Dulger have criticised the bureaucratic burden and are demanding the draft be withdrawn.
Half of Workers Say Time Fraud Is Normal
A Civey survey of 2,500 employed people found that 51 percent consider time fraud — falsifying working hours — a common practice. The main reason, cited by 26 percent of respondents, is compensating for unpaid overtime. Supporters of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) largely reject such practices, while voters for the Left Party and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) show greater understanding for workers adjusting their hours independently.
Disclaimer regarding our articles: No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Information on prices, companies, and markets is provided without guarantee; changes are possible at any time. Stock market transactions can lead to substantial losses. Our articles are created and reviewed in whole or in part automatically with the support of AI.
