"In this country, we must start working more and above all more efficiently again," said newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz in his first government statement. In doing so, he sparked a public debate that has also been actively engaging other parties, the ARD points out.
Appeals for higher productivity
The CDU Secretary General Carsten Linemann defended the Chancellor's new course and appealed to all German citizens to show a stronger commitment to ensuring the country's well-being: "Our well-being, our social security systems, and the efficiency of our entire country depend on how productive we are," Linemann told the RND news website.
According to him, there is nothing wrong with seeking a balance between work and leisure, but the impression often arises that it is only about seeking a balance between leisure activities. "With a four-day work week and a balance between work and leisure, we cannot preserve the welfare of this country", said Carsten Linemann.
End of the 8-hour workday?
The statements by the Chancellor and Carsten Linemann have drawn serious criticism from the unions and the Left. Critics point out that the lack of sufficient places in kindergartens and childcare facilities in schools forces most women to work part-time.
The coalition agreement of the new CDU/CSU and SPD government provides for the 8-hour workday to be replaced by the "weekly working time" model. According to Linemann, weekly working hours need to offer more flexible working options "especially for families with children and those who care for the elderly and sick".
Are people working less in Germany?
The "active pension" planned by the government, which will allow more people to work after retirement age, is intended to increase labor productivity.
People work relatively less in Germany than in other economically strong countries, according to an analysis by the Institute for German Economics, which is close to business circles. However, experts believe that such comparisons are relatively inaccurate, because there are numerous full-time and part-time employment models in different countries, which are difficult to compare.