Katherina Reiche, Germany’s federal Minister of Economics and a CDU member, confirmed that the total number of working hours in the country is insufficient. “We are losing because the overall volume of work over the year is lower than in other OECD nations” she told “Bild am Sonntag”. She clarified that the problem is not a lack of productivity per hour or that Germans don’t work hard enough; “the total number of hours is too low, and by doing this we hand over a chance for growth”.
Reiche urged that the working volume be increased in ways beyond the ongoing part‑time debate. She proposed that people work longer past the standard retirement age, that weekly hours be made more flexible, and-most crucially- that overtime not be deterred by taxation. “Overtime is often unappealing from a tax perspective today, so we are again giving up opportunities” she added.
In terms of broader reforms to enhance Germany’s competitiveness, Reiche called for a stronger stimulus this year to spur growth.
