The baking industry is demanding flexible working time laws.

The Central Association of the German Baking Trade, together with 28 other trade associations, is appealing to the Federal Government to replace the legally regulated daily maximum working hours with a weekly maximum working hours.

An alliance of 29 associations, including the Central Association of the German Bakery Tradeappeals to the Federal governmentto replace the legally regulated daily maximum working hours with a weekly maximum working hours, thereby implementing the goal agreed upon in the coalition agreement. The legal prerequisites for this must be created quickly.

The European Working Time Directive provides the necessary framework to combine flexibility and employee protection. With the changes in the world of work, both companies and employees need more flexibility.

By switching to maximum weekly working hours, companies could, for example, respond better to production peaks or unforeseen workloads. Employees would gain more autonomy and personal flexibility while maintaining the same number of hours. This would promote a better work-life balance.

The associations' appeal in full:

Implement the coalition agreement: Finally create modern working time legislation!

The German economy faces major challenges and opportunities in the changing world of work. Companies and employees alike urgently need more flexibility in working time arrangements to meet the demands of modern work processes and individual lifestyles.

The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU, and SPD, entitled "Responsibility for Germany," states on page 18: "The world of work is changing. Employees and companies want more flexibility. Therefore, in accordance with the European Working Time Directive, we want to create the possibility of a weekly rather than a daily maximum working time – also and especially in the interest of better reconciling family and career." This clear political declaration of intent must now finally be put into practice.

We urge the Federal Government and the governing parties to promptly create the legal framework for a weekly, rather than a daily, maximum working time, as already permitted by the EU Working Time Directive. The European Working Time Directive provides the necessary framework to combine flexibility with employee protection. It is now your responsibility to modernize German working time legislation accordingly and implement practical and future-proof regulations.

Source: Central Association of the German Bakery Trade

Signatories of this appealGerman Raiffeisen Association; German Association of Mushroom and Cultivated Mushroom Growers; Federal Association of VO Companies; Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade, and Services; Federal Association of Cattle and Pig Producers; Federal Association of International Wine and Spirits; Federal Association of Producer Organizations for Fruit and Vegetables; Central Association of German Business Associations for Trade Intermediation and Distribution; Federal Association of Agricultural Trade and Association of Grain Traders of the Hamburg Stock Exchange; The Baking Ingredients Association; The Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; German Farmers' Association; German Franchise Association; German Fruit Trade Association; German Potato Trade Association; German Showmen's Association; German Association of Animal Feed Manufacturers; German Brewers' Association; Family Farms in Agriculture and Forestry; Confederation of German Agricultural and Forestry Employers' Associations; Industrial Association for Agriculture; Association of the Oilseed Processing Industry in Germany; Union of the German Potato Industry; Association of the Grain, Milling, and Starch Industry; Association of the Meat Industry; Association of German Sparkling Wine Producers; Association of the Sugar Industry; Central Association of the German Baking Trade; Central Association of Horticulture

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