SPD proposes raising Germany's statutory vacation to 21 days

The leadership of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has put forward a proposal to increase the legal minimum paid vacation from the current 20 days to at least 21 days per year. The suggestion is part of a broader reform package that the SPD is negotiating with the Chancellor’s Office. According to the Hans‑Böckler‑Stiftung, roughly 10‑15 % of German employees receive only the statutory minimum, meaning that millions of workers could benefit from the change. Estimates from the WSI institute indicate that about four million employees are covered by the minimum entitlement. The Ministry of Labour declined to comment on the proposal, while some business representatives warned that an additional day of leave could raise labour costs for firms. Earlier, in 2025, the SPD‑aligned trade union ver.di secured a modest increase for public‑sector staff, raising the entitlement from 30 to 31 days from 2027 onward.