One of the possible government partners According to DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann, there are different ideas about the regulations on working hours. “We know that the coalition parties have different ideas,” he said after a meeting between SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans and the DGB board. “There is still a lot of clarification to be found in the working time policy.”
In their explorations, the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed that they want to support unions and employers, to enable flexible working time models. This should be done within the framework of collective agreements. It should be possible to deviate from the regulations on maximum working hours as a “limited option” if collective agreements or works agreements provide for this. Hoffmann campaigned that the Partners orientate themselves on existing tariff regulations. “We don’t need any further openings.” In the metal and electrical industry, for example, employers and IG Metall had agreed on additional options for reducing working hours with partial wage compensation.
The FDP had in its electoral program more flexibility in the Working Hours Act and a weekly instead of a daily maximum working time required. The SPD had promised: “We rule out an extension of the daily working hours.” The Greens refuse to weaken the Working Hours Act to the detriment of employees.
Hoffmann went on to say: “We definitely see other danger spots.” That would be one further precariousness would result if the earning opportunities in mini and midi jobs were increased. In their exploratory paper, the traffic light partners announced: “We are increasing the mid-job limit to 1,600 euros.” The mini-job limit should be based on a weekly working time of 10 hours at minimum wage conditions and increase with the planned increase in the minimum wage to 520 euros.