Criticisms expressed by DGB Head, Fahimi, towards proposed 12-hour work shifts on a regular basis. - Criticism from DGB head Fahimi towards proposed standard twelve-hour workrotations
German Trade Union Chief Yasmin Fahimi Criticizes Proposed 12-Hour Shifts and Minimum Wage Plans
Berlin, Germany - The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), under the leadership of Chair Yasmin Fahimi, is keeping a distance from the government's plans to reform the Working Hours Act. In an interview with a local newspaper, Fahimi criticized the proposed shifts as a product of the "political bubble" in Berlin. The DGB has already implemented flexible working hours, Fahimi explained, but with an emphasis on maintaining health and safety considerations.
Regarding the statutory minimum wage, Fahimi cautioned employers and Commission Chair Christiane Schoenefeld against preventing a significant increase from 2026. The Commission aims to set the minimum wage for 2026 by the end of June, with the current rate standing at 12.82 euros per hour. Both parties agreed in the coalition agreement that the minimum wage could increase to 15 euros by 2026. Evoking the memory of the commission chair siding with employers during a stalemate in the past, Fahimi urged Schoenefeld to avoid repeating that decision. If no mutual agreement is reached, Fahimi suggested that the government should consider intervening.
Fahimi also reiterated her call for a permanent stabilization of the pension level at a minimum of 48 percent of net average income. To achieve this, she proposed increasing the tax subsidy for pension insurance. Facing the challenge of an aging society, Fahimi called for the reintroduction of the wealth tax and the inclusion of the self-employed in pension insurance to help stabilize revenues.
In a broader context, Fahimi's stance on labor and economic policies may influence her views on the issues discussed. Her advocacy for a "tariff turnaround" on May Day points towards improving labor conditions and potentially wages[2]. Her support for the government's financial policies, including the "special fund" for infrastructure and rearmament, suggests a strategy to stabilize the economy and indirectly affect pension policies[1].
As of the latest available information, there are no specific updates on Fahimi's views on the pension level stabilization, minimum wage increase, or Working Hours Act reform in Germany. However, her involvement in addressing economic disparities and the wage gap between East and West Germany, as well as her focus on worker welfare and the importance of health and safety aspects, adds nuance to her stance.
- Yasmin Fahimi, the German Trade Union Chief, has expressed concerns about the Commission Chair's potential stance on the proposed minimum wage increase from 2026, especially in light of past disputes between employers and the Commission.
- In the context of EC countries, Fahimi's emphasis on employment policies, such as flexible working hours with health and safety considerations, and her focus on increasing the tax subsidy for pension insurance, reflect her broader strategy to address economic challenges like an aging society, while improving labor conditions and potentially wages.
