In order to counteract the ongoing shortage of staff, Bavaria is promoting an extension of the maximum working hours. The proposal has met with harsh criticism from the SPD. Secretary General Kühnert called the idea "cheeky" and "perfidious". One solution would be to increase immigration.
The Bavarian push for longer maximum daily working hours meets with strict rejection from the federal SPD. "What the CSU is proposing to extend daily working hours is a declaration of war on the millions of employees in the country who keep the shop running day after day," SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert told the "Tagesspiegel". That will not happen with the SPD.
The Bavarian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ulrike Scharf, announced on Wednesday that at a conference with her counterparts, she would make a move to extend the maximum working time beyond the current ten hours. The working hours would have to be adapted to the living environments of the people. "We need more flexibility to be able to combine family with work - that also increases the employment rate," said the CSU politician before the conference of labor and social affairs ministers from the federal and state governments. Ultimately, it should also be possible to work four days and use the time gained to extend the weekend.
Kühnert criticized this argument in the "Tagesspiegel" as "cheeky" and "perfidious". "Instead of supporting the federal government in its efforts to attract urgently needed skilled workers by increasing female employment and immigration and thus providing relief for employees, the CSU would rather squeeze the current workforce like a lemon." The initiative had already met with a mixed response on Wednesday: While praise and approval came from business, trade unions sometimes voiced sharp criticism.
