Ergun Lümali, the Chief of the Works Council at Mercedes-Benz, has rejected the proposal to extend working hours while keeping wages unchanged. He stated to Spiegel that such a measure would not be effective given the sometimes low production capacity at German plants.
Lümali’s position comes in response to statements made by Supervisory Board Chairman Martin Brudermüller, who had argued for increasing working hours in Germany. Brudermüller suggested this change was necessary to reduce the company’s labor costs, which he views as high compared to international competitors, and asserted that a return to a 40-hour work week was vital for securing competitiveness.
Currently, for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements at Mercedes-Benz, the standard schedule is the 35-hour week. Lümali confirmed that there are no specific negotiations underway regarding any potential changes at this time. “We are not currently negotiating,” he noted.
Furthermore, he highlighted that negotiations are currently impossible because IG Metall (the union) and the employers’ association are the respective negotiating parties. He added that without a corresponding opening by the union, discussions cannot take place, although he acknowledged that “IG Metall and the employers’ association are constantly in conversations.”
Mercedes-Benz previously informed inquiries that its structural costs in Germany, particularly labor expenses, are not competitive internationally. The corporation is currently exploring various methods to improve efficiency and is holding intense discussions with the social partners regarding these issues.
