Germany's coalition stalls on work‑hour law and minijob reforms

Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ARD that the coalition will first implement the extension of Sunday work for bakeries, confectioneries and libraries, while the broader reform of the Working Hours Act – shifting from a daily eight‑hour limit to a possible weekly maximum – is postponed for further discussion in the autumn. The disagreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD on this issue has deepened, with trade unions warning that any weakening of the eight‑hour day would face strong opposition.

At the same time, the coalition could not reach a clear decision on the future of Germany’s 6.8 million minijob positions. The draft agreement only raises the flat-rate tax on minijobs from 2 % to 5 %, and Chancellor Merz said a final decision will be taken in the autumn. CSU leader Markus Söder opposed a complete abolition, while representatives of agriculture, gastronomy and the Federal Employment Agency warned that stricter rules would hurt sectors that rely heavily on minijob workers.