If you work in Germany, the rules governing how long your employer can ask you to work each day could be about to change. The CDU/CSU and SPD — the two parties forming Germany's current governing coalition — are locked in a dispute over reforms to the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz). At the heart of the debate is whether Germany's traditional eight-hour workday should remain the legal standard, or whether the door should be opened to much longer shifts of up to 12 hours. For expats and immigrants who depend on stable, fair working conditions as a foundation for their lives in Germany, this debate is worth following closely.
Germany's Working Hours Act sets the current framework for how many hours employees can be required to work in a single day. The eight-hour limit has long been seen as a cornerstone of worker protection in the country. Now, CDU/CSU and SPD negotiators are reportedly at odds over how far to reform this framework.
The key questions being discussed include:
No final decision has been announced, and the political disagreement between the coalition partners means the outcome remains uncertain.
Germany's workforce includes a significant and growing number of people who moved here from abroad — whether on a skilled worker visa, a Blue Card, or through other pathways. Many expats are employed in sectors such as technology, healthcare, logistics, hospitality and manufacturing, where working-time rules have a real impact on daily life.
Here is why you should pay attention:
Your daily schedule could change. If the law is reformed to permit longer daily shifts, your employer may have more legal room to schedule you for extended working days, depending on your sector and any collective agreement that applies to your workplace.
Worker protections could shift. The current eight-hour limit acts as a baseline protection for all employees. Any weakening of that baseline could affect overtime expectations, rest periods and work-life balance — all of which matter enormously when you are also navigating life in a new country.
Collective bargaining agreements may become even more important. If flexibility is pushed down to the level of individual companies or sectors, the terms negotiated by trade unions (Gewerkschaften) in your industry could determine your actual working conditions. Knowing whether your workplace is covered by a Tarifvertrag (collective agreement) becomes more relevant than ever.
Your residence status is linked to your employment. For many expats, a valid Aufenthaltstitel depends on maintaining qualifying employment. Changes to working conditions that affect job satisfaction, hours or even job security can have knock-on effects worth considering.
The reform is not yet law, and the political debate is ongoing. However, it is a good moment to inform yourself and be prepared:
Yes, under the current Working Hours Act, the standard maximum is eight hours per working day, though this can be extended to up to ten hours on individual days if the average over a reference period remains at eight hours. The reform debate is about whether this framework should be made more flexible, potentially allowing longer daily hours more routinely.
No. A change in the law would set a new maximum ceiling, not a requirement. Whether your employer could or would schedule 12-hour shifts would depend on your contract, any applicable collective agreement, and operational need. However, a higher legal ceiling does reduce the statutory floor of protection for workers without strong union coverage.
Yes, in some sectors, collectively agreed arrangements already permit variations in daily working time within legally defined limits. If this reform shifts more decision-making power to the company or sector level, those agreements become the primary line of defence for workers' interests.
If you believe your current employer is violating working-time rules, you can contact your trade union, your works council, or seek advice from a labour law specialist (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht). The relevant enforcement authority in Germany is typically the regional customs authority (Zollbehörde) for certain violations, or the regional labour inspectorate.
The debate over Germany's Working Hours Act is still unfolding, and no reform has been passed. But the direction of the discussion — towards more flexibility and potentially longer daily shifts — is something every worker in Germany, including the millions of expats and immigrants who call this country home, should be aware of.
For now, the most useful steps are to understand your own contract and collective agreement, stay informed through official channels, and engage with your workplace representation structures. If the law does change, the details will matter enormously — and being informed early puts you in the strongest position.
Source: DW English
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