Markus Söder wants to make Germans work longer.Image: keystone
The Bavarian politician Markus Söder wants reforms for more economic growth – and as quickly as possible, despite the upcoming state elections. Söder’s demand is that the Germans should work more.
02/02/2026, 04:1602/02/2026, 04:16
CSU boss Markus Söder sees extra work as a solution to Germany’s economic problems. “An hour of extra work a week would bring us an enormous amount of economic growth and is really not asking too much,” said Söder in the ARD program “Report from Berlin”.
In addition, there is a need for the abolition of telephone sick leave, as already called for by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), and a gradual reduction in the so-called pension at 63, i.e. the early pension without deductions for those who have been insured for a particularly long time.
Söder continued that he would also like the introduction of a so-called waiting day in case of illness. For employees, this would mean that they would not receive any wages on the first day of illness. “On bridging days, Germany is always a little sicker than at other times,” said Söder.
The Bavarian Prime Minister called for these reforms to be implemented in the coalition as quickly as possible. Under no circumstances should reforms be postponed because of the upcoming state elections.
Schwesig contradicts Söder
In contrast, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) said:
“I don’t agree at all that Germans don’t work enough.”
The corresponding discussion triggered by the Union ignores the reality of life for many people.
Schwesig also rejected calls from the Union to cut social benefits such as unemployment benefits in order to reduce non-wage labor costs. “The problem with high unemployment is not that people are not working enough, but that a lot of jobs are being cut, and the Chancellor has to take action,” she demands, referring to Merz.
In a European comparison, Germany is among the Average working hours at the lower endalso because of – as in Switzerland – a high part-time rate. On average, 34.8 hours are worked. When comparing full-time work, Germany is almost exactly in line with the EU average at 40.2 hours. Switzerland is significantly higher, with full-time employees working just over 42 hours per week. (t-online/dpa/con)