Chancellor Merz: Working longer for more prosperity in Germany!
Chancellor Merz: Working longer for more prosperity in Germany!
During the CDU economic day,Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that concepts such as the four-day week and a balanced work-life balance cannot ensure the prosperity of Germany. These statements were applauded by the managers present, but also led to sharp criticism. If Merz would point out that a lack of willingness to perform and a spoiled leisure slope in society prevailed, many employees were wrongly denounced. rp-online.de 35.5 hours. This positions Germany in an international comparison in fourth place.
Merz calls for a debate about longer and more efficient working hours in Germany, since labor productivity is slightly above the EU average, but stagnating productivity values have burdened the German economy since the 1990s. tagesschau.de points out that Germany has the third highest proportion in the EU with a part-time rate of 28.5 % and this influences the overall economic performance. The highest average weekly working time in the EU was recorded in Greece in 2023 with 40.9 hours.
challenges and necessary reforms
A worrying trend is the upcoming departure of the baby boomer years, which could lead to a significant lack of specialists in the coming years.
merz and other voices demand structural reforms that should not affect the employees, but the systems themselves. This includes flattening of the course of the collective bargaining in the case of income and wage tax in order not to punish additional benefits, as well as a review of spouse splitting, which is considered antiquated. The need to create incentives for increased childcare and increased care work by fathers and initiatives to integrate older workers. In particular, the IG Metall is ongoing to have dispensed with the implementation of a four-day week with full wage compensation, which is considered a positive decision.
the European comparison
In European comparison, working hours vary significantly. While in Greece people work the longest at 39.8 hours a week, the Netherlands have the shortest working time with 33.1 hours - due to a high part -time quota. tagesschau.de notes that the average working hours in the EU have decreased overall for ten years, which may have been due to changed economic framework.
The discussion about working hours in Germany is not only an internal topic, but also reflects the challenges with which the EU is confronted. Against the background of stagnating productivity values and a growing shortage of skilled workers, a profound reflection on the working world of tomorrow will be essential.
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| Ort | Deutschland |
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