The key facts

  • Merz endorsed 12-hour shifts three days a week, saying it gives employees more time for family
  • A draft law will set weekly, not daily, maximum working hours
  • Alexander Schweitzer was appointed Labor Minister on October 13 and must also handle pension reform

According to DW, Merz spoke on October 13 in Berlin at the 'Employers' Day' event organized by the Federation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) as a speaker.

In the Chancellor's view, flexibly organizing working hours creates new opportunities for both companies and employees.

"There are international companies where people work 12 hours in a row. Three times a week, and then — that's enough," Merz said.

In his assessment, such a regime gives employees the opportunity to devote more time to their families. The Chancellor said that working more than eight hours cannot always be judged as exploitation, as it may give companies and employees the opportunity to distribute working hours conveniently.

Merz emphasized that the government should have already prepared a draft law providing for a flexible approach to working hours. According to the plan, the document will set a weekly rather than daily maximum limit for working hours. This is expected to open the way for creating various work schedules.

The Chancellor also expressed support for giving companies broader opportunities to conclude fixed-term employment contracts with employees and for simplifying the procedure for dismissing top-level managers.

The final version of the draft law is expected to be handled by Germany's new Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Alexander Schweitzer. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appointed him to this post on October 13.

Schweitzer, who previously led the government of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, also faces the task of carrying out pension reform.

Earlier, former minister Bärbel Bas announced that due to serious personal circumstances she could not fully fulfill her roles in the government and the party, and would leave the posts of Labor Minister and co-chair of the Social Democratic Party from October 12.