"Linnemann discusses the concept that achieving a balance between life aspects doesn't lead to wealth accumulation."
Article: Urging More Productivity, Linnemann Questions Work-Life Balance as Pathway to Prosperity
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has urged German citizens to prioritize productivity to sustain prosperity and social security systems. While advocating for work-life balance, Linnemann cautioned that it may have evolved into a 'life-life balance' in certain aspects.
Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Linnemann expressed concerns about the potential prioritization of personal time over professional duties. "However, sometimes it seems that it's not about work-life balance anymore but about life-life balance," he said.
The new German government seeks to boost productivity, with proposals such as introducing an 'active pension' or flexibilizing weekly working hours. Linnemann emphasized the importance of this latter measure, especially for families with children or dependents, stating that Germany needs to make up ground in this area.
Young people, according to Linnemann, should focus on completing apprenticeships and learning trades, emphasizing the significance of self-earned income.
A recent survey by the market research institute Ipsos showed contrasting public opinions regarding the flexibilization of weekly working hours. The survey revealed that 46 percent of the population agree with the idea of replacing current daily maximum working hours with weekly maximum hours, while 44 percent oppose it.
Trade unions, however, express concerns about potential extensions of daily working hours. They worry that this could lead to an end of the 1918-established eight-hour daily work limit, as stipulated by the Working Hours Act, which currently sets a daily limit of eight hours, with exceptions for up to ten hours in certain instances.
In the coalition agreement between Union and SPD, there are plans to replace the current daily maximum working hours limit with a maximum number of weekly working hours, aligning with the EU Working Time Directive's limit of 48 hours per week, with specific exceptions for certain workers.
This change aims to improve work-life balance and support compatibility between family and professional life, while protecting workers' health, safety, and ensuring adequate rest times. Despite maintaining overall working hours, this shift allows for more scheduling flexibility, potentially leading to longer weekends without increasing total weekly hours.
Source: ntv.de, hny/AFP
- Carsten Linnemann
- Working hours
- CDU
- SPD
The Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament, along with the European Parliament, may discuss the proposed changes in working hours, as the new German government, led by the CDU, plans to align with the EU Working Time Directive's limit of 48 hours per week. The changes aim to support the industry and finance sectors by improving work-life balance, particularly for businesses with families or dependents.
