Following discussions held at Mercedes and Bosch, Germany’s largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, is now considering extending the working week for its more than 100,000 employees in Germany. According to reports from the business magazine Handelsblatt referencing corporate sources, management views this potential extension as a lever to reduce costs per hour worked and boost the competitiveness of its domestic sites. Currently, there is no call for a switch to a 38- or 40-hour week at VW.
Although the issue will not be addressed during the review meeting with IG Metall and the Works Council in Hannover this Wednesday, it is understood that the topic may be introduced into negotiations later on. Volkswagen generally operates on a 35-hour work week.
The company is simultaneously planning to cut between 50,000 and 60,000 jobs globally, with roughly half of those reductions expected to take place in Germany. As part of this new savings program, VW has announced the cancellation of several collective bargaining agreements on Wednesday. Insiders indicate that the master collective agreement, which regulates working hours and overtime, is also under discussion. However, VW plans to maintain the future collective agreement from 2024 and guarantees of employment security until the end of 2030.
