Germany's DGB launches nationwide protests against pension reform and social spending cuts

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) notes that official figures from the Federal Ministry of Labour show social‑state expenditures rose to over €1.4 trillion in 2025, accounting for 32 % of GDP—up 0.7 percentage points from the previous year and more than three points over the past decade. The union argues that, contrary to its own narrative of a "social cutback," spending has increased, adding €134 billion to the economy compared with a 2015‑level scenario.

On 26 September, the DGB is organising a coordinated action day in 15 German cities—including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Hannover and Stuttgart—to protest the coalition government's planned pension reform, which would raise the retirement age, overhaul income‑tax rules and introduce cuts to worker rights and social benefits. DGB chief Yasmin Fahimi warned that the reforms threaten retirees and called for investment‑focused policies that protect workers' lifetime contributions.