German Chancellor Merz just told Germans they can’t maintain prosperity with 4-day weeks and work-life balance.

Friedrich Merz and the CDU/CSU have indeed pushed for loosening Germany’s strict daily working‑hour limits.

Germany currently has:

  • an 8‑hour daily limit (Arbeitszeitgesetz)
  • with a maximum of 10 hours allowed only under specific conditions

Merz and the CDU have argued for switching to a weekly maximum instead, which would allow:

  • longer individual workdays
  • more employer flexibility
  • fewer rigid daily caps

This proposal has been widely reported in German media and debated by unions, economists, and political parties.

https://www.fr.de/verbraucher/acht-stunden-tag-vor-dem-aus-merz-plant-reform-bestimmte-berufsgruppen-sollen-ausnahme-bekommen-zr-93848177.html