Spahn presses SPD to implement agreed working time reform

The background to the debate is the current Working Time Act. Under it, the daily working time of employees may generally not exceed eight hours; under certain conditions, an extension to up to ten hours is possible. After the end of daily working time, employees must have an uninterrupted rest period of at least eleven hours, which in sectors such as hospitals, transport companies, or gastronomy can be reduced to ten hours under certain conditions. Spahn pointed to a practical problem: "With weekly working time, it's something quite practical in everyday life: If you send an email for work at 11:00 pm, you are not actually allowed to start writing the next one so early in the morning. Under current occupational safety law, that is actually not allowed in many places."

The Union and SPD had agreed in their coalition treaty to create the possibility of measuring maximum working time on a weekly rather than daily basis in the future, as the European Working Time Directive already provides. However, a reform summit at the Chancellery produced no concrete decisions; the coalition and social partners merely agreed to hold further talks.

Unions warn of erosion of worker protection

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) rejects the plans to switch from a daily to a weekly maximum working time. DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi criticized the government's plans as a shift in the balance of power in favor of employers.

Further reform projects of the coalition

At the same time, Spahn called on the coalition to take an "upswing oath": "We as a coalition must take an upswing oath: That we promise each other that growth now has priority." He expressed confidence that the coalition would also find solutions on controversial projects such as the infrastructure law and electoral law reform: "We will sit together until we have reached decisions." At the same time, he acknowledged that governing between CDU/CSU and SPD is "sometimes also arduous."

Beyond working time, Spahn also commented on other reform plans. He called for the planned increase in the diet of members of the Bundestag to be suspended, because the monthly remuneration would otherwise rise from around 11,833 euros to around 12,330 euros. He also spoke out in favor of revising Section 188 of the Criminal Code, which places insults of persons in political life under special criminal protection. This regulation is often perceived in public as a "special right for the powerful," Spahn said. He himself can take a lot, "but even there there are limits somewhere. They can also exist in a paragraph that applies to everyone." Asked how he deals with being called a "complete idiot" ("Vollidiot"), Spahn replied: "If someone says 'Vollidiot,' I can deal with that."

On social benefits such as BAföG, Bürgergeld, housing allowance, and parental allowance, Spahn was cautious: As long as there is no economic growth, increases are not justifiable. With a view to the smoldering conflicts in the coalition, Spahn underlined his willingness to seek compromise. He pointed out that the reform of working time is a central building block for more growth and must now finally result in concrete legislation.