German Left lawmaker Anne Zerr warns of surge in Sunday and holiday work

Anne Zerr, a member of Germany’s Left party (Die Linke), criticised the rapid increase in workers employed on Sundays and public holidays. Data from the Federal Ministry of Labour shows that the number of employees granted exception permits for such work has more than doubled, rising from roughly 25,000 in 2015 to an estimated 51,700 in 2025.

The ministry also reported a 1,600 % jump in identified violations of illegal Sunday work, reaching 98 cases, although only six federal states record these figures. At the same time, labour‑time inspections fell by about 11 % in 2024 compared with the previous year and are down 23 % from 2015 levels. Zerr said the Working Hours Act is already “riddled with holes like Swiss cheese” and warned against further relaxations of the law.