After the debate over a “lifestyle” part‑time option, the Union is now looking to put Germany’s part‑time entitlements and the incentives that may accompany them under scrutiny. According to the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday edition), this intention is evident in the final version of the part‑time proposal submitted for the federal party conference on 20-21 February in Stuttgart. The term “lifestyle”-used by the Mittelstandsunion (MIT)-no longer appears in the document.
The proposal, titled “Restructure Part‑time Entitlements – Strengthen Employment”, states that state regulations and the claims tied to them should be examined to determine whether they create perverse incentives or unnecessarily hinder broader labour‑market participation. It also asks whether there are insufficient impulses toward greater economic independence, all while ensuring that legitimate reasons such as child‑rearing, caregiving, or further training are not compromised.
Regarding the mix of employment and transfer benefits, the proposal contends that a right to part‑time work must be well justified. It further argues that people who can work, who receive benefits but have no caregiving duties, and for whom a full‑time role is feasible, should-under ordinary circumstances-secure their livelihood through full‑time employment.
In the draft resolution, the CDU explicitly stresses the need for a coherent and goal‑oriented part‑time claim, describing it as a component of balanced labour‑market policy. The CDU’s application commission has recommended acceptance of the proposal, forwarding it to the party’s internal bodies and the parliamentary group.
