Deutsche Bank CEO urges Germany to reform labor laws ahead of key elections
Christian Sewing, the CEO of Deutsche Bank, has called for major changes to Germany’s labour policies. He wants office workers to stay in their jobs for longer and has urged politicians to rethink rules on sick leave and job security for higher earners. His warnings come as concerns grow over rising nationalism ahead of key regional elections.
Sewing has proposed extending working lives, particularly for those in desk-based roles. He argues that society needs to work more and that policymakers should review protections against dismissal for well-paid employees. Another key issue he raised is Germany’s higher rate of sick leave compared to countries like Switzerland, calling for political action to address it.
The Deutsche Bank chief also stressed the need for quick reforms to prevent a shift towards far-right politics. He warned that if a far-right candidate wins a state premiership, it could harm Germany’s reputation among international investors. Such an outcome, he believes, would be even more damaging if it signals a wider political trend. With regional elections set for September 2026 in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Sewing sees these votes as a crucial moment. He insists that open and honest discussions about Germany’s future must happen now to avoid long-term economic risks.
Sewing’s proposals include longer careers for office workers, stricter sick leave policies, and fewer job protections for high earners. He has framed these changes as necessary to prevent economic instability and a rise in nationalist politics. The upcoming regional elections will test whether his concerns gain wider political traction.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
