Linnemann posits that achieving a "life-life balance" does not generate wealth
Germany's Productivity Agenda: Linnemann Advocates for Flexible Working Hours to Boost Prosperity
Germany may need to work harder to maintain its prosperity, according to Carsten Linnemann, the CDU's general secretary. He suggests that flexible weekly working hours could be a solution, although its implementation has met with only lukewarm approval.
Addressing the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Linnemann argued that productivity is crucial for German welfare, social security systems, and the country's overall functionality. He compared the current focus on work-life balance to a "life-life balance," pointing out that striking a perfect balance between work and leisure might not always result in prosperity.
The proposed solution involves the possibility of an "active pension" or the flexibilization of weekly working hours, as part of the government's aim to boost productivity. Flexible schedules would particularly benefit families with children or those caring for family members, Linnemann explained.
The coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD envisions replacing the current eight-hour daily workday with a weekly maximum working time. According to a survey by the market research institute Ipsos, opinions regarding this change are divided: 46% of the German population support the shift to weekly maximum working hours, while 44% oppose it.
However, trade unions have expressed concerns about the potential extension of daily working hours, fearing the demise of the established eight-hour workday, which has been in place in Germany since 1918. The German Working Hours Act currently states that employees' daily working time may not exceed eight hours, with exceptions allowing up to ten hours per day.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent speech sparked a debate about increasing productivity and reassessing work hours to better serve the country's well-being. The SPD, as part of the current coalition, is part of the discussions around work hour reforms, although specific statements from party leaders regarding the proposed weekly maximum working hours are not extensively detailed in available information.
In light of the ongoing debate, there is a preference among employees for flexible scheduling, with 73% indicating a willingness to work more hours on certain days if they could work fewer hours on others. Critics, such as labor unions and the Left, have raised concerns about the impact on childcare, women's work-life balance, and other aspects of workforce welfare.
The debate around working hours in Germany is nuanced, with various stakeholders expressing differing opinions on the delicate balance between productivity, flexibility, and individual well-being.
The Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament, as part of the policy-and-legislation process, may need to discuss and potentially pass legislation regarding the business of flexible working hours, a proposal by Germany's CDU's general secretary Carsten Linnemann, aimed at boosting productivity. This policy shift could have significant implications for general-news headlines, especially in the realm of politics. The financing of any changes resulting from such legislation remains to be determined.
