Germany’s Planned 48-Hour Weekly Limit Splits Business and Labour as Summit Ends Without Deal
14.06.2026 - 00:05:02 | boerse-global.de
A summit convened in the Federal Chancellery in mid-June brought together unions, employer representatives and government officials to discuss a sweeping overhaul of Germany’s working-time rules. Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the talks as “constructive,” but no substantive agreement emerged. The central proposal — replacing the current daily maximum with a 48-hour weekly cap — remains a battleground between business groups seeking flexibility and unions warning of health risks.
Given the growing focus on the health risks associated with long working hours, UK employers face mounting pressure to keep their safety documentation up to date. The free Health & Safety Toolkit offers ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists, and toolbox talks that help you comply with all key regulations. Already trusted by over 37,000 UK businesses, this practical toolkit makes it easier to protect your workforce and avoid costly penalties. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
The reform of the Arbeitszeitgesetz (Working Hours Act) is part of a broader package the coalition aims to finalise before the parliamentary summer recess in early July. According to Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, a draft bill is expected by the end of this month, with the law itself slated for passage in 2026. The shift from a daily to a weekly limit is designed to relieve pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as sectors such as tourism and hospitality.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche urged swift action at the annual Familienunternehmen (family-business) conference in Berlin. She warned that Germany is losing substance as production moves abroad, and called for higher total working volumes, greater performance-based fairness and a reduction in the tax-and-contribution burden. Employer associations broadly back the plan. Felix Pakleppa, managing director of the German Construction Industry Federation, highlighted an upside for workers: easier bundling of shifts on construction sites means employees can enjoy longer weekends in return. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) pointed to six years of economic stagnation and argued that more dynamic labour markets and lower labour costs are essential for international competitiveness.
Labour representatives see it differently. DGB chair Yasmin Fahimi came out firmly against diluting the eight-hour day. A survey by the Economic and Social Sciences Institute (WSI) underlines the scepticism: 75 percent of employees expect negative effects on their work-life balance. Researchers from the WSI and the Hans Böckler Foundation warn that a pure weekly limit could theoretically permit individual shifts exceeding 12 hours. Scientific evidence also raises red flags — studies show accident risk climbs steeply after the eighth hour.
DIW President Marcel Fratzscher considers targeted flexibility useful but insists it is no substitute for genuine productivity gains. The onus, he said, rests with companies, not on simply extending working hours.
Alongside the working-time dispute, the government is pushing a healthcare savings package through the Bundestag, scheduled for a vote on 26 June. The measures include higher co-payments for prescription drugs and cuts to the contribution-free spousal co-insurance. The goal is to fend off a projected deficit of nearly €19 billion in the statutory health insurance system for 2027. Whether the federal states will get on board is likely to become clearer at the conference of state premiers on 25 June. The summit earlier this month showed that even around the chancellery table, bridging these divides remains a steep challenge.
