Sunday Work Reform for German Bakeries and Libraries Sparks Union Outcry Over Federal Loopholes
Published on 07/06/2026 at 23:25 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A plan by Germany’s coalition government to expand Sunday working hours for bakeries and public libraries has drawn sharp criticism from trade unions and exposed a patchwork of federal and state rules that could leave some customers empty-handed.
Under the proposed changes to the Arbeitszeitgesetz (Working Hours Act), bakers and confectioners would be allowed to work up to eight hours on Sundays, almost tripling the current limit of three hours set in 1996. Some states already permit five hours, but the new law would apply nationwide from 1 January 2027. Public libraries would also gain the right to open for six hours on Sundays, though the German Library Association criticised the move as insufficient, noting that museums already enjoy even more generous Sunday hours.
The reform has a glaring catch: the federal law only covers production work in the bakery. Shop opening hours remain a matter for the 16 states. In Bavaria, for example, Sunday sales of fresh bread rolls are still capped at three hours, meaning that extended baking hours won’t translate into longer shop hours for consumers. The German Baker’s Confederation (Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks) slammed the disconnect. “Without harmonising sales times, the reform remains invisible to consumers,” the organisation warned, urging lawmakers to align production and retail rules.
The debate has reignited calls for a broader overhaul of Sunday trading. Stefan Genth, managing director of the German Retail Association (HDE), demanded a complete liberalisation of Sunday opening for all retailers. “Companies and their employees should decide for themselves,” Genth argued. Only then, he said, could bricks-and-mortar shops compete effectively with online retailers.
Trade unions have pushed back strongly. Both the Food and Beverage Union (NGG) and the Verdi services union warned that extending Sunday work would increase job strain and make the industry even less attractive for skilled workers. “The health risks should not be underestimated,” they said, voicing concerns about the sector’s ability to recruit and retain staff.
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The reform comes bundled with a tax change that could hurt bakeries financially. The flat-rate tax on mini-jobs — mini-jobs are low-earning, often part-time positions common in the baking trade — is set to rise from 2% to 5%. The baking industry, which relies heavily on such workers, fears that the tax increase will wipe out the benefits of greater flexibility. On the other hand, the President of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), Dittrich, praised the reform as “a long-overdue modernisation of outdated working time rules.”
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