Can fewer public holidays boost Germany's economy? – DW – 05/28/2025
As Germany's baby boomer generation retires and more people prefer working only part-time, economists are in favor of abolishing a public holiday sparking a heated public debate.
Jonas Enderlein, CEO of Solutiance, offers digital solutions for real estate firms by scanning and digitizing rooftop conditions and matching firms with local roofing companies for repairs. His 40 employees work remotely across Germany, facing challenges due to varying regional public holidays. Enderlein and other business leaders advocate for longer working hours in Germany, citing lower average working hours compared to other European countries. According to the OECD, Germans worked an average of 1343 hours in 2023, significantly less than in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Despite calls for increased working hours, labor unions warn of rising mental stress and burnout among workers.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.
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