Overview
- On Thursday May 21, 2026, the governing coalition’s plan to replace the century‑old eight‑hour daily cap with a weekly working‑time framework was confirmed as part of the coalition agreement.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports the shift to weekly totals while SPD leader and Labour Minister Bärbel Bas publicly said she will not personally push the change, exposing a clear split inside the government.
- Economic voices and employers back the reform as a way to give office and service firms more scheduling flexibility without increasing total weekly hours, an argument advanced by IW director Michael Hüther on May 18.
- Trade unions, the DGB and social organisations oppose the plan unless strict protections are added, warning that workers could face pressure to accept longer days and that any flexible model must be voluntary.
- The legal design and practical effects remain undecided and will be negotiated between employers and unions, with outcomes set to determine which sectors are covered, how protections are enforced, and when any reform would take effect.