German Conservatives Target Part-Time Work Rights in Economic Push
The business faction of Germany's dominant Christian Democrats party has unveiled a controversial proposal to eliminate workers' legal right to reduce their hours, arguing that the current system enables what they term "lifestyle part-time work" that hampers economic productivity.
Proposed Restrictions on Flexible Working
Under existing German law, all employees in Europe's largest economy enjoy a fundamental entitlement to work part-time, a provision particularly valued by women who often require flexible arrangements for childcare or caring for elderly relatives. The CDU's Mittelstand Association, representing small and medium-sized enterprises, now seeks to revoke this automatic right, insisting that workers should obtain special permission to work reduced hours.
"Those who can work more should work more," declared Gitta Connemann, chair of the CDU business wing, in comments to Stern magazine which obtained a leaked copy of the motion. The proposal is expected to pass at the party's general conference in Stuttgart next month, where it would become official CDU policy.
Alignment with Merz's Economic Vision
The initiative aligns with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent criticisms of what he perceives as declining work motivation among Germans. Facing pressure to stimulate sluggish economic growth, the conservative leader has warned that national prosperity cannot be maintained "with a four-day week and work-life balance." Merz has previously accused workers of exploiting sick leave systems, criticizing the ease of obtaining medical certificates remotely.
The proposed motion would maintain exemptions for parents raising children, those caring for relatives, and individuals pursuing professional development through training. However, workers outside these categories would lose their automatic right to part-time arrangements under the new framework.
Internal Party Opposition Emerges
The proposal has already sparked significant pushback from within the CDU itself. Dennis Radtke, chair of the party's social wing, accused the business group of fundamentally misunderstanding workplace realities. "Such a restriction amounts to putting the cart before the horse," he told Funke media group.
Radtke acknowledged the need to encourage more part-time workers into full-time employment but argued that for many, full-time work represents a trap characterized by inflexible hours, reduced pay, and limited career progression. He emphasized that improving childcare and elderly care infrastructure must precede any restrictions on working arrangements, noting that "this can and should be decided by every family individually."
Germany's Part-Time Employment Landscape
Recent data from Germany's Institute for Employment Research reveals that part-time employment reached just over 40% in the third quarter of 2025, partly driven by growth in health, social services, education and teaching sectors where flexible arrangements are more common. This contrasts sharply with manufacturing industries where full-time work remains predominant.
Comparative international statistics show Germany's part-time rate substantially exceeds the UK's 24% (2025) and France's 18% (2024). Notably, women constitute 76% of Germany's part-time workforce, a proportion similar to both Britain and France. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has previously identified Germany's inadequate workplace integration of women and older workers as a significant economic weakness.
The debate over part-time work rights reflects broader tensions between economic productivity concerns and social policy considerations in Germany's political landscape, with implications for gender equality, family welfare, and labor market flexibility across Europe.
