Germany is getting ready to change one of the oldest fixtures of its working life: the strict eight-hour day. The government has committed to reforming the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz), and a draft bill is expected in June 2026.
Before you read another word, the most important point: this is not law yet. It's a proposal in the governing coalition's agreement, the draft is still being written, and it's genuinely contested. So treat this as a guide to what's coming and how likely it is, not a description of rules you can rely on today.
If you're a professional planning a move to Germany, here's what's actually on the table, what's confirmed, and what's still up in the air.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Headline change | Daily working-time limit replaced by a weekly limit |
| Legal status | Proposed only — not yet law |
| Draft bill expected | June 2026 |
| Possible entry into force | Later in 2026, if passed |
| Weekly cap | Up to 48 hours/week (per the EU Working Time Directive) |
| Rest protections | Stay: 11 hours daily rest, one full day off per week |
| Linked measure | Mandatory electronic time tracking |
| Likely exemption | Businesses under 10 employees (for time tracking) |
| Opposition | Trade unions reject it |
What's Actually Changing: Daily Limit to Weekly Limit
Right now, German law caps the working day at eight hours, stretchable to ten in certain cases. The reform would stop counting hours per day and start counting them per week instead.
In practice that means aligning with the EU Working Time Directive, which allows up to 48 hours over a seven-day period. So instead of a hard daily ceiling, you'd have more freedom to shape your week — a longer day here, a shorter one there — as long as the weekly total stays within the limit.
For anyone doing remote work or collaborating across time zones, that flexibility is the whole point. It's also why the government keeps framing this as being about flexibility, not longer hours. Labour Minister Bärbel Bas has repeatedly pushed back on the idea that the goal is to make people work more.
The Rest Protections That Stay
This is the part that reassures most people. The reform doesn't touch the core protections that make German work-life balance what it is. Under EU rules that Germany has to follow, employees still get at least 11 hours of uninterrupted rest between working days, and at least one full day off every week.
So the picture isn't "work whenever, as much as you want." It's more freedom to arrange your hours, inside guardrails that still protect your evenings, your weekends, and your health. If you want the fuller picture of how German labor rights work today, our guide to work-life balance and labor rights in Germany covers the current rules.
Mandatory Digital Time Tracking
The flexibility comes with a string attached. As part of the same package, employers would be required to record working hours electronically — start, end, and breaks. This was the SPD's condition for agreeing to weekly limits, and it follows earlier European Court of Justice rulings on tracking working time.
The stated aim is to stop longer, more flexible days from quietly turning into unpaid overtime. Reporting suggests businesses with fewer than 10 employees may be exempt, though the detail will only be clear once the draft is published.
Where It Stands (Honestly)
Here's the reality check. As of now, none of this is in force. The reform sits in the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD, and the Ministry of Labour has said the draft bill is expected in June 2026. If it passes, it could come into effect later in the year.
That "if" is doing real work. Trade unions have rejected the proposal, arguing the current law already allows enough flexibility and that loosening the daily limit weakens worker protection. Even within the coalition, more debate is expected before anything is finalised. So the shape of the final law — and whether it lands on schedule — is not settled.
Our advice: watch the June draft for the specifics that matter to your industry, but don't make plans that depend on rules that haven't been written yet.
What It Means If You're Moving to Germany
For now, the current eight-hour-day framework still applies, so nothing about your move changes today. Looking ahead, if the reform passes, the practical upside for international professionals is real: more room to structure your week around focused work, family, and cross-time-zone collaboration, without the strict daily ceiling.
It doesn't change the fundamentals of getting there. The EU Blue Card still runs on salary thresholds (€50,700 standard, €45,934 for shortage occupations and recent graduates in 2026), and German work culture still rewards the things it always has — our guide to German work culture digs into that. If you're weighing the financial side of a move, the salary guide and our post on 401(k) and Roth IRA taxes in Germany are the two worth reading next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Germany getting rid of the 8-hour working day? That's the plan, but it hasn't happened yet. The proposed reform would replace the daily limit with a weekly one of up to 48 hours. A draft bill is expected in June 2026, and it would only take effect if passed.
Is the new working hours law already in force? No. As of 2026 it's a proposal in the governing coalition's agreement, not enacted law. The current eight-hour-day rules still apply until any reform passes.
Will the reform mean I have to work longer hours? The government says the goal is flexibility, not more hours. EU rest protections — 11 hours of daily rest and one full day off per week — would stay in place regardless.
Does the mandatory time tracking apply to everyone? The plan is to require electronic recording of working hours for most employees, with reporting suggesting businesses under 10 employees may be exempt. The exact scope will be clear when the draft bill is published.
Does this change affect my EU Blue Card or move to Germany? Not directly. Visa and Blue Card rules are separate, and current working-time law still applies. The reform mainly affects how your weekly hours can be arranged once you're employed in Germany.
At Move2Europe, we help US professionals move to Germany with a clear read on the rules that actually apply — from visas and contracts to what daily working life looks like once you arrive.
Book a free consultation and let's plan your move around the facts, not the headlines.
Official sources:
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) — Germany's ministry responsible for the Working Hours Act reform
- EU Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) — the EU rules Germany's weekly limit would align with
- Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card — current salary thresholds and work visa rules