Volkswagen Introduces Emergency Clause Allowing 28-Hour Workweek

The new agreement with IG Metall permits temporary workweek reductions to address potential employment crises, with partial wage adjustments.

Volkswagen's new labor agreement includes a clause enabling a reduction in the workweek from 35 to 28 hours during severe economic challenges.
The clause requires that all other measures, such as reducing overtime and implementing short-time work, be exhausted before it is activated.
Employees will receive full pay for the first two reduced hours, while wages for up to three additional hours will be partially reduced, with a maximum of three hours unpaid.
The measure is intended only for extreme situations, with company sources stating they do not anticipate needing to implement it.
This approach is reminiscent of VW's four-day workweek introduced in the 1990s, which preserved jobs during a major crisis and remained in effect for over a decade.