Germany's industrial sector is facing a major debate over working hours as manufacturers struggle with rising costs and weakening competitiveness. Senior executives at companies including Mercedes-Benz and toolmaker Stihl have backed a return to a 40-hour working week without additional pay. They argue that Germany's high labour costs are making it harder for manufacturers to compete internationally.
The proposal would reverse a major change in German working life that followed one of the country's most bitter labour disputes of the postwar era.
