Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung refuted claims of Germany’s workforce doing too little. Speaking to the Funke media group, he stated that people are not criticizing the country for working insufficiently, emphasizing instead that “work must be worthwhile, and then people will work a lot”.
Hartung also called for incentives for all income levels to increase their working hours, suggesting that an extra hour per week would be beneficial. He criticized the high tax burden, arguing that all citizens, regardless of their earnings, must be motivated-a factor that must be considered when discussing tax relief.
Furthermore, the CEO strongly criticized the government’s plan to launch a “spring of reforms” arguing that a single “season” would not be enough to achieve the necessary changes. He insisted that the overarching economic framework must be assessed objectively, particularly by measuring private investments. He concluded that the government must continue altering the regulatory framework until the weakness in German investment is overcome.
Specifically, Hartung outlined three critical requirements: first, a modern and reliable infrastructure; second, a manageable economic burden from taxes, fees, and bureaucracy; and third, a high-performing education system that spans from vocational apprenticeships to academia.
Meanwhile, Economic Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) supported Hartung, praising his industry background. She noted that it was “quite refreshing” to have a Minister of Economics who had also worked within the industrial sector, adding that she looked forward to his continued efforts with great confidence.
