Germany’s police union, GdP, has voiced strong opposition to proposals to extend the working lives of civil servants. GdP federal chairman Sven Hüber categorically rejected the idea of police officers working an additional five and a half years, stating that officers in shift and emergency services already have a life expectancy below the national average, despite being initially fit and healthy upon recruitment.
Hüber attributed this to the inherent risks of the job, irregular working hours, shift work and exceptionally high levels of stress. His comments come in response to a study by the Pestel Institute, which suggested extending the working lives of civil servants by five and a half years compared to other workers, based on differing life expectancies between professions. The institute also noted that civil servants currently work longer hours – up to 41 per week – than other public sector employees or those in industry.
Rather than extending working lives, Hüber called for increased government efforts to maximize the existing workforce potential. He suggested expanding childcare and early support programs, investing further in education, ensuring comprehensive training and employment opportunities for young people and streamlining the immigration process for skilled workers. “This is far more beneficial to society than simply forcing people to work longer” Hüber concluded.
