Kühnert and Merz clash over Germany's working hours and labor rights
A heated debate over working hours has erupted between SPD politician Kevin Kühnert and CDU leader Friedrich Merz. At the DGB federal congress, Merz called for greater flexibility in labour regulations, sparking sharp criticism from Kühnert. The exchange highlights deep divisions over workers' rights and the future of Germany’s labour market. Kühnert condemned Merz’s proposal to scrap the eight-hour workday as a direct attack on workers. He argued that such a move would leave employees vulnerable to exploitation, forcing them into shifts of nearly 13 hours. For Kühnert, this represents a dangerous step backward in social policy rather than progress.
He also accused Merz of ignoring the widespread exhaustion already affecting Germany’s 42 million workers. According to Kühnert, these employees have repeatedly shouldered the burdens of recent crises, from economic downturns to the pandemic. Removing protections like maximum working hours, he warned, would push many toward burnout or physical breakdown by middle age.
Kühnert went further, calling Merz’s demands a mockery of those struggling under current conditions. He challenged the CDU leader to demonstrate his own willingness to work harder before imposing longer hours on others. Letting bosses dictate extreme schedules without limits, Kühnert insisted, would be completely unacceptable. The clash underscores the tension between calls for economic flexibility and the protection of workers’ well-being. Kühnert’s remarks frame the debate as a fight to preserve hard-won labour rights. With no resolution in sight, the dispute is likely to shape future discussions on Germany’s work culture and regulations.
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