Overview
- On Sunday CDU Bundestag floor leader Jens Spahn publicly demanded that the SPD implement the coalition agreement to allow a weekly rather than a daily statutory working‑time maximum, arguing it would give firms and workers more flexibility.
- SPD figures including Jan Dieren and Labor Minister Bärbel Bas have rejected any abolition of the eight‑hour day and said reforms must strengthen worker self‑determination and comply with EU rules on minimum rest.
- A high‑level meeting at the Bundeskanzleramt produced no final decision and the coalition and social partners agreed to continue talks, with further negotiations being prepared ahead of a July round of meetings.
- Trade unions and the Left strongly oppose the proposal, with the DGB calling a large demonstration for 27 June and critics warning longer daily shifts would raise health and safety risks for workers.
- Legal limits under the EU Working Time Directive—notably minimum daily rest periods—set clear boundaries for any change and SPD officials have proposed measures such as mandatory digital time records to prevent unpaid overtime and protect employees.