Labor Minister Scharf’s move to extend daily working hours to up to twelve hours has met with criticism from trade unions and professional associations.
Working more flexibly, but also longer? Trade unions and professional associations have clearly criticized the initiative by Bavaria’s Minister for Social Affairs and Labor, Ulrike Scharf (CSU), to extend daily working hours to up to twelve hours under certain conditions. The move was “completely incomprehensible” and a “step backwards into the 19th century,” said the Bavarian Catholic Workers’ Movement on Thursday. Extending the maximum permissible period, while women in particular are burdened with everyday work, childcare and caring for relatives, “is not exactly what I would have expected from a women’s minister,” said state chairwoman Regina Soremba-Böxkes. “Increasing the daily working hours is not a suitable means of countering the shortage of skilled workers.”
The trade union for food, indulgence and restaurants in Bavaria made a similar statement. Extending the working hours will not solve the actual problem, said state district secretary Sebastian Wiedemann on the phone. Many colleagues would have switched to other industries during the corona pandemic in order to have better earnings and more regulated working hours. You don’t win new workers “by making the gastronomy less attractive”. There are certainly individuals who would like to work more. However, to protect yourself and your colleagues, you need clear working time limits. The collective agreements also already provide for the possibility of extending hours – many employers just refused to recognize them.
According to the Working Hours Act, the eight-hour day applies in Germany; a maximum of ten hours is only possible in exceptional cases. On Wednesday, Minister Scharf justified making more flexible working possible here with the better compatibility of work and family, among other things. However, 12-hour shifts would have to remain voluntary and observe employee protection. What that looks like in detail must now be discussed with everyone involved. However, IG Metall Bayern showed little interest in this either. “Are you okay?” the union tweeted. For a better compatibility of family and career “it does not need longer, but shorter and self-determined working hours”.