Dirk Wiese, the head of the SPD parliamentary group, expects to reach an agreement with the Union regarding the reform of the Labor Time Act. According to Wiese, the coalition agreement did not plan for the abolition of the law, but rather for enabling a weekly maximum working time combined with mandatory digital time tracking. This measure, he stated to Funke Media Group newspapers, ensures that unpaid overtime is eliminated. Based on these clear agreements, the parties are now working cooperatively to achieve results. However, he noted during the discussions that many people are unaware of the flexible solutions already possible in everyday business operations.
Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) is reportedly preparing to submit a proposal for reforming the Labor Time Act, following pressure from the Union. Currently, the law mandates a daily maximum working time of eight hours, which can be extended to ten hours in certain situations. The proposed reform could potentially allow for a daily maximum of 13 hours, provided that the weekly working time does not exceed 40 hours. Bas plans to complement this reform with regulations regarding the recording of working hours. Jens Spahn, the CDU parliamentary group leader, had called on the SPD over the weekend to implement the agreed-upon reforms.
The coalition partners are currently engaged in negotiating a series of major reform projects, which they intend to finalize in early June. Negotiations are currently underway in preparation for a coalition committee meeting on July 1st, involving both Spahn and Wiese. Wiese described the conversations as “very trusting. And that is a good thing,” but refused to comment publicly on specific details. He concluded by adding that during his constituency meetings, he senses a clear expectation among citizens that the coalition must deliver shared results for the country.
