Get Back to Work, Says Kretschmann Amid Germany's Economy Struggle
Advocates for Extended Workdays: Kretschmann Proposes Longer Working Hours
For a change in the work culture, Baden-Württemberg's ruling Green politician, Winfried Kretschmann, is advocating for prolonged work hours, despite the economic slump. His idea? Let's ditch the outdated notion of reducing work hours in hard times.
In an interview with "Stern", Kretschmann argued, "We shouldn't be working less in a crisis, that's completely outdated." His stance has been influenced by his personal experience. At 76, he maintains a grueling 12-hour workday, serving as Minister President for nearly 14 years.
However, he remains adamant about preserving holidays, citing their constitutionally protected status. "As long as we are healthy, not tied to our children or caring for relatives, we must work more," he said, contradicting recent economy proposals to scrap holidays.
On the topic of innovation and economic growth, Baden-Württemberg is actively collaborating with top-tier research institutions such as imec, aiming to advance chiplet-based technology for the automotive sector. This focus on innovation could influence any labor policy alterations suggested by Kretschmann or his party.
It's worth noting that Germany boasts the lowest annual working hours among industrialized nations. Proponents of longer working hours argue that increased productivity could boost the economy that's struggling to regain its footing. However, any labor policy changes must navigate the nation's stringent social and labor protections.
- Winfried Kretschmann
- Baden-Württemberg
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- Working Hours
[1] imec collaboration: https://www.imec-int.com/en/research/collaboration/collaborating-with-imec[3] Baden-Württemberg and imec: https://www.bmwk.de/SharedDocs/DE/ME/Bildung-Forschung/Geschaeftsfuehrung-Digitalisierung/Corporate-partnerships/Geschaeftsfuehrung-Corporate-partnerships/imec.html[5] Baden-Württemberg's political climate: https://www.statista.com/topics/7784/political-parties-in-germany/#topicHeader__wrapper
- "In Baden-Württemberg, led by Green politician Winfried Kretschmann, discussions about extended work hours are underway in the face of Germany's economic struggle, as he advocates for more work rather than less."
- "Kretschmann, a strong proponent of vocational training, suggests a shift from the outdated notion of reducing work hours during a crisis, citing his personal example of working 12 hours daily while serving as Minister President."
- "Despite advocating for increased working hours, Kretschmann, a member of Alliance 90/The Greens, maintains the importance of holiday protection and contradicts proposals to scrap them."
