Spahn pressures SPD to deliver working time reform, shifting from 8-hour day to weekly maximum

Coalition deal under strain

Union and SPD agreed in their coalition contract to allow a weekly maximum working time instead of the current 8-hour daily limit, all in line with the European Working Time Directive. The agreement emphasises better reconciliation of family and work. Implementation has stalled, however, and Spahn is now publicly pressing the SPD to honour that deal.

Taking the weekly working time, it is something very practical: if you write a work email at 11 p.m., you are not allowed to start again so early the next morning to write the next one.

He argued that the present occupational health and safety law often prevents such flexibility, but that any reform could still maintain protection if employers and employees agree on flexible rules. The CDU politician added that his party also stands by parts of the coalition deal that are difficult for them, citing the pension package.

SPD and unions resist

Labour minister Bärbel Bas told the DGB national congress in May that her party and she personally would rather not touch the working time issue at all. The DGB itself called the abolition of the 8-hour day an "outrageous attack on our time and health".

SPD labour politician Dieren noted that the reform must comply with the EU directive, which sets an 11-hour daily rest period. He said anyone demanding the removal of rest periods for all employees may wish that, but is not staying within the coalition contract.

The 11-hour rest periods are very clearly regulated in the EU Working Time Directive. Anyone demanding the removal of rest periods for all employees may wish that, but is not staying within the coalition contract.

The dispute follows a reform summit at the Chancellery the previous week, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz and coalition leaders met employer associations and trade unions. No breakthrough was reported.

Greens open to flexibility, with limits

Green parliamentary group deputy Andreas Audretsch said his party wants to enable more flexibility in working time arrangements, but insisted the 8-hour day must remain to protect people in physically demanding sectors like construction and logistics. He ruled out any softening at the expense of workers' health. That position leaves the SPD isolated among the potential reformers.

We want more flexibility in organising working hours. At the same time, it is clear the eight-hour day must remain to protect people, whether in construction or logistics.

What the law currently says

Under current German law, daily working time must not exceed eight hours, extendable to ten hours under certain conditions. After work, employees must have an uninterrupted rest period of at least eleven hours, which can be shortened to ten hours in sectors such as hospitals, transport or hospitality. The coalition’s plan is to write a weekly cap into the law instead of the daily limit, keeping the EU directive’s safeguards. Spahn insists the flexibility was agreed and must now be implemented.