Member of the Bundestag and former party leader of The Left, Janine Wissler, adamantly rejected the weakening of the eight-hour workday during the debate surrounding increased working time flexibility. Speaking to RTL and ntv on Friday, Wissler stated, “We fundamentally say: Hands off the eight-hour day.” Instead of allowing for longer working days, she argued that discussions should focus on reducing working hours, utilizing technological advancements to enhance the quality of life for everyone.
Wissler criticized the inclusion of this concept in the coalition agreement, calling it a major mistake. She pointed out that numerous legal and collective bargaining exceptions already exist to regulate working hours flexibly. While emphasizing the importance of strengthening collective agreements, she maintained her core position: “Hands off the eight-hour day.”
“We don’t live to work,” explained the politician from The Left. She acknowledged that flexibility is necessary but stressed that it should not come at the expense of employees or lead to further lengthening of the workday.
