In recent years, German politicians and business leaders have taken up a contentious issue that was once considered off-limits: the topic of German workers not putting in enough hours. With concerns about productivity and labor shortages in the weak economy, this topic has become a matter of national importance.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck expressed frustration with workers striking, arguing that such disruptions cannot be afforded by the country. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Christian Lindner compared the work ethic of Germans to other countries and criticized their lack of productivity. He pointed out that workers in Italy, France and elsewhere work much more than they do in Germany.
The comments sparked a heated debate on work hours and productivity in Germany. For instance, train drivers recently secured a reduction in their work week from 38 hours to 35 hours despite concerns about labor shortages. Deutsche Bank AG CEO Christian Sewing also voiced his opposition to a four-day work week, urging Germans to work harder instead of less.
The broader implications of these debates are clear: German leaders are concerned about the country’s economic competitiveness and productivity. As such, calls for increased work hours and greater efficiency are becoming more frequent. However, it remains unclear how the German workforce will respond to these challenges.
