Germany Faces Strikes And Debate Over Work Reforms

Germany is in the midst of a heated debate over the future of its labor laws, as two major sectors—gastronomy and education—wrestle with proposed reforms and labor actions that could reshape working conditions for thousands. On January 29, 2026, the country witnessed both a nationwide teachers’ strike and renewed calls from Cologne’s gastronomy sector to overhaul the traditional eight-hour workday, underscoring a broader national conversation about flexibility, fairness, and the ever-shifting demands of modern work.

In the heart of Cologne, the city’s vibrant restaurant and bar scene is facing a crossroads. For years, Germany’s Arbeitszeitgesetz (working hours law) has capped daily work at eight hours, with exceptions allowing up to ten hours if compensated later. Now, the Federal Ministry of Economics is pushing for a reform that would swap this daily limit for a more flexible weekly cap—a move that’s drawing fierce criticism from labor unions but enthusiastic support from many in the hospitality industry.

Maike Block, managing director of IG Gastro Köln, which represents more than 300 local establishments, voiced strong approval for the proposed changes. According to t-online, Block described the reform as an “absolutely sensible” step for the sector, suggesting that even greater flexibility—such as a monthly rather than weekly cap—would be preferable. “We often get feedback from our employees that they would like to design their schedules more flexibly: many want to work longer shifts to have longer stretches of free time elsewhere,” Block explained. For many in the industry, the ability to cluster work hours and enjoy extended time off is an attractive prospect amid the sector’s unique rhythms and demands.

Yet, Block acknowledged the risks: “A loosening of the working time rules could also be abused,” she admitted in her interview with t-online. Still, she argued that the advantages would outweigh the drawbacks for most in Cologne’s gastronomy scene.

The sector’s challenges don’t stop at working hours. The recent minimum wage hike to 13.90 euros per hour has hit restaurants and bars hard, Block noted, though she expressed relief that this was offset by a reduction in VAT from 19% to 7%. Meanwhile, strict noise and emissions regulations remain a “huge problem” for many establishments, with Block promising that IG Gastro Köln would continue to advocate for improvements.

But not everyone is cheering the prospect of more flexible hours. Germany’s powerful unions, including the Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG), have condemned the proposal as a threat to workers’ rights. Guido Zeitler, NGG’s chair, called it “another attack on the protective rights of employees,” warning that abandoning the eight-hour day would increase pressure on hospitality workers and “massively worsen” the balance between work and private life. According to NGG’s press release, unions fear that increased flexibility for businesses could translate into more unpredictable schedules and greater strain for staff.

The Federal Ministry of Labor, led by Bärbel Bas (SPD), has responded cautiously. “You always have to keep both sides in mind,” a spokesperson told t-online, emphasizing the need to balance flexibility for businesses with protection for workers. The ministry plans to present a draft law in the first half of 2026 that aims to strike this delicate equilibrium. Christoph Ploß (CDU), the government’s coordinator for maritime economy and tourism, remains optimistic, suggesting the reform “will especially help small and medium-sized enterprises.” For now, the debate rages on, with the prospect of strikes looming large if unions’ concerns aren’t addressed.

Meanwhile, Germany’s education sector is embroiled in its own labor dispute. On the same day that the gastronomy debate flared, around 12,000 public sector education employees—including teachers, school social workers, and educators—joined a nationwide strike organized by the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW). The action, dubbed “Streiktag Bildung,” saw roughly 100 teachers from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern travel to Hamburg and Berlin for major demonstrations, highlighting the scale of discontent over stalled wage negotiations and persistent pay inequities.

At the heart of the teachers’ demands is a 7% pay increase—or at least 300 euros more per month—a 12-month contract duration, and fairer treatment for lateral entrants. The GEW in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is also pushing to reduce the mandatory teaching load from 27 to 25 hours per week, though this isn’t formally part of the wage negotiations.

“I am striking together with many colleagues for seven percent more pay, for recognition and respect, for our good work. We need more money to pay rent and to continue hiring new colleagues, so that schools are not understaffed and the quality of teaching doesn’t suffer,” Hannes Müller, a long-time union member and special education support worker from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, told Nordkurier. Müller stressed that the strike isn’t just about staff, but about the quality of education for children—a message aimed squarely at parents and the broader public.

However, not all educators are on board. Gisela Richter (name changed), a non-tenured teacher at a Mecklenburg-Vorpommern high school, publicly opposed the strike and the union’s pay demands. “I think that a seven percent wage demand in this difficult situation is not justified,” she told Nordkurier, citing the broader economic climate and arguing that teachers are already well compensated. Richter’s stance reflects a divide within the profession, with some—particularly older, non-tenured teachers—questioning the timing and necessity of industrial action.

To minimize classroom disruptions, emergency care services were provided in primary and special schools, with ten schools in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern reporting decentralized strike actions. In some cases, tenured teachers stepped in to supervise students during the walkouts. The GEW has warned that further strikes are planned unless employers make meaningful concessions—a sign that the standoff could drag on if no agreement is reached soon.

Both the gastronomy and education debates reveal a Germany at a crossroads. On one hand, employers and some employees are clamoring for greater flexibility and responsiveness to the realities of modern work. On the other, unions and worker advocates warn that such changes could erode hard-won protections and upend the delicate balance between work and life. The government, caught in the middle, faces the daunting task of crafting reforms that satisfy both economic imperatives and social responsibilities.

As the first half of 2026 unfolds, all eyes will be on Berlin’s lawmakers. The choices they make—whether to loosen labor laws, raise wages, or find a compromise—will have lasting consequences for the nation’s workplaces, schools, and families. For now, the only certainty is that the conversation is far from over.