Ferda Ataman, Germany’s federal anti‑discrimination commissioner, sharply criticized the CDU’s economic wing for its proposed reforms to part‑time work. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition), she noted that the majority of part‑time employees are women-not because they seek more leisure hours, but because they care for relatives or children. “By caring for others they end up working more hours over the course of a day than many men” she said. “So for most women, part‑time is not a luxury; it is a hard job”.
Ataman said the initial draft of the Union’s proposal-titled “No Right to Lifestyle Part‑Time”-is not a good way to bring more women into full‑time employment. “Instead of easing women’s lives, it forces them to justify to the Chancellor’s party why they can’t work full time” she warned. She added that a strategy aimed at Germany’s labor shortage only creates new problems, “because women are not motivated by such accusations but are pushed further out of the workforce”. Many within the Union, she said, hope the initiative will be abandoned over the weekend.
The commissioner pointed out that the German labor market is fundamentally geared to men. “We see this, for example, in the perception that home office, flexible hours and part‑time are luxuries” she explained. People who work part‑time are more likely to face discrimination: they are viewed as less productive and committed, and are often overlooked for promotions and bonuses.
Ataman argued that addressing discrimination is essential if Germany wants to attract more workers. “The shortage of staff in Germany is closely tied to how women are treated in the workplace” she said. “To recruit additional labor, we must dismantle these discriminatory practices”.
