The majority of Germans are open to reforming the rules for daily working hours. In a Forsa survey conducted for RTL and ntv, 59 % of respondents favored abolishing the existing eight‑hour daily limit and replacing it with a maximum weekly work time of 40 hours. Around 37 % opposed such a change.
Among all employees, 57 % support altering the current working‑time regulation. The strongest objections, however, come from residents of eastern Germany (45 %), supporters of the AfD (50 %), and especially from supporters of the Left party (57 %).
Under the current law, the daily working time of employees may not exceed eight hours. A weekday is defined as any day except Sunday, so the existing rule would allow up to 48 hours of work per week.
The topic of part‑time work met mostly negative reactions to a restriction of the right to part‑time employment. Only 38 % would find it sensible to limit part‑time rights to specific reasons such as childcare or caring for relatives. By contrast, 59 % think that restricting part‑time rights is not sensible. The only group that largely supports such a limitation is supporters of the CDU/CSU, where 53 % are in favor.
The survey interviewed 1,001 people from 30 January to 2 February.
