Employers Launch New Push for Overtime - Bavaria's holiday debate pits employers against unions over economic growth
A debate over working hours and public holidays has erupted in Bavaria after three key holidays fell on weekends this year. Employers and unions are now clashing over proposals to adjust leave policies and working time to support economic growth. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Bavaria called for public holidays that land on weekends to be moved to the next workday. Their demand came as three such holidays in 2024 are set to contribute an estimated 0.2 percent boost to the economy.
In response, the Bavarian Employers’ Association (vbm) proposed scrapping a public holiday entirely after their initial request was rejected. Bertram Brossardt, vbm’s managing director, also suggested cutting a vacation day or tweaking daily and weekly working hours to drive economic gains. He later added support for part-time work for those with specific needs but opposed making it an automatic right. Markus Söder, leader of the CSU, put forward another idea: adding one extra hour of work per week. However, both reducing leave and extending working hours face hurdles, as they would require lengthy negotiations with unions. The Association of Bavarian Business took a different stance, recommending that employees voluntarily forgo vacation days to help the economy. But with unions resisting changes, the proposals remain contentious.
The dispute highlights deep divisions between employers and unions over how to balance economic growth with workers’ rights. Any changes to holidays, leave, or working hours would need agreement from all sides before taking effect.
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