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Overtime alarm: Schwalm-Eder district fights against unpaid work!
In the Schwalm-Eder district, employees work 2 million hours of overtime, many of which remain unpaid. The NGG warns of impending changes to the law.
Overtime alarm: Schwalm-Eder district fights against unpaid work!
There is a sense of alarm in the Schwalm-Eder district when it comes to employees' overtime. According to current figures, employees worked around 2 million hours of overtime last year. What is shocking is that around half of this working time remained unpaid. This data comes from the “Working Time Monitor” of the Pestel Institute, commissioned by the Food-Pleasure-Gastronomy Union (NGG) and reflects the worrying trends in the labor market, such as nh24 reported.
The figures have proven to be particularly alarming in the catering and hotel industries: around 28,000 hours of overtime were worked here, 52 percent of which were not paid. This situation could become even worse as a result of planned legislative changes by the federal government. The plan is to abolish the 8-hour day and extend daily working hours to up to 12 hours. Union representative Guido Noll expresses clear concerns in this context, particularly with regard to the health risks and the high burden on families.
Health risks
Long working days increase the risk of occupational accidents and illnesses, which is particularly problematic for women, who hold two-thirds of the part-time jobs in the Schwalm-Eder district. They often have to balance work, family and care. The NGG has therefore called on the region's members of the Bundestag to reject the planned changes to the Working Hours Act. Instead of long-term extensions of working hours, better working conditions, qualifications and more training places should be demanded in order to counteract the acute shortage of skilled workers.
Legal framework and protective measures
But what does the legislation say about working hours? The European Working Time Directive regulates working hours in the EU and sets a maximum working time of 48 hours per week. Employees are also entitled to breaks after six hours and four weeks of paid vacation. Although member states are required to enact their own laws, they must adhere to EU guidelines. In Germany, the Working Hours Act protects employees from excessive working hours and health risks, a law that urgently needs to be further developed if one wants to counteract the trends verdi thematised.
In addition, employers must identify workplace hazards and take appropriate action. An overload display gives employees the opportunity to point out excessive pressure to perform and to make management aware of possible dangers. It is very important for employees to be aware of these rights in order to protect their interests.
The situation in the Schwalm-Eder district is a clear wake-up call. Unless immediate and sustained action is taken, unpaid overtime rates could continue to rise in the coming years. The dialogue between employees, employers and politicians must be intensified promptly in order to improve working conditions for employees and to offer their health the necessary protection.