Overview

• On July 13, DIHK president Peter Adrian publicly advocated dropping Pfingstmontag to address stagnating labor productivity
• Adrian highlighted that German employees work an average of 1,350 hours per year, lagging the OECD average by 400 hours
• He urged that more people, particularly women, take up full-time roles supported by expanded childcare services
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz has similarly called on Germans to increase their work hours to boost economic growth
• Churches, trade unions and regional leaders oppose cutting the holiday, citing cultural traditions and worker welfare