Learn About Germany’s Working Hours Law and the Maximum Permitted Working Hours

Working Hours Law in Germany is one of the most important regulations that must be followed to avoid penalties imposed by the German authorities.

The law establishes a fundamental rule that must not be exceeded: employees may not work more than 48 hours per week, while the standard maximum permitted working time is 8 hours per day.

Through Europedia24, we will explain Germany’s Working Hours Law and the maximum number of working hours allowed in the country.

Benefits of Working in Germany

Germany provides many benefits for all employees and workers in the country due to the strength and stability of its economy, in addition to its low unemployment rates. These benefits are represented in the following:

• It provides employees with high salaries, which are considered the highest in Europe.
• Paid vacations of up to 6 weeks.
• Maternity leave for a full year from the date of birth.
• Other paid leaves for one month only per year.

Read also – Work Residency in Germany and the Main Requirements

What is the working hours law in Germany?

The working hours law in Germany determines the number of hours permitted for work within the country, which applies to all employees in Germany.

However, there are exceptional categories to which the law cannot be applied, including the following:

1. Workers in the aviation sector.
2. Executive employees and senior doctors according to Article 18, Paragraph 1.
3. Church employees who organize services according to the same article.
4. Senior employees in the public sector.
5. Employees who care for others.

As for the other categories, they are subject to the laws regulating the nature of their work. For example, civil servants are subject to the civil service regulations.

The Judges Act applies to judges and workers in the same field, while young people under the age of 18 are subject to the Youth Employment Protection Act, and they are not allowed to work more than 40 hours per week.

Read also – Learn about mini-job work in Germany

Maximum Working Hours in Germany

The law stipulates that the permitted working hours in Germany are only up to 8 hours per day, while the maximum limit is estimated at only 10 hours.

Please note that this is considered an exception, with the requirement that the average daily working hours remain 8 hours over a period of 6 months. As for the maximum limit, it must be compensated within a period estimated at 24 weeks, meaning obtaining sufficient compensation from the employer.

As for the permitted working time per week, it is estimated at 48 hours per week, based on work starting from Saturday for 8 hours per day.

In the case of working for 10 hours as an exception, the weekly working hours reach approximately 60 hours.

Regarding working hours in Germany per month, they are estimated at 206.4 hours per month, and in the case of working a maximum of 10 hours per day, the work will be compensated over the following 24 weeks.

Number of Part-Time Working Hours in Germany

There are some jobs in Germany that allow the possibility of working part-time, and the average number of hours in these jobs ranges between 20 and 30 hours per week.

It should be noted that if the employee works for a period of no less than 6 months, they have the right to request a reduction in weekly working hours, but on the condition that the company employs more than 15 people.

Working Hours in Germany for Students

Of course, the working hours law in Germany differs according to the category, as students are not allowed to work regularly for more than 20 hours per week during the study period.

The law aims to provide the necessary time for studying instead of wasting it on working hours, as students resort to work to help them cover living expenses.

Students can earn 520 euros per month through a mini-job without the need to pay social insurance contributions and rely on family insurance.

Read also – What are the requirements for obtaining a job-seeker visa in Germany?

Number of Working Days in Germany

Of course, the number of working days in Germany varies from one year to another, depending on the official holidays within each state and the days of the week themselves.

There are some employees who receive 20 vacation days, while others receive 30 or 35 days based on the collective agreement.

Accordingly, the remaining number of working days in Germany during the year ranges between 213 and 232 working days, depending on the federal state and the employment contract, with the necessity of deducting sick leave days and other absence days.

Read also – How can you work in Germany without a certificate?

Exceptions to the Working Hours Law in Germany

There are some exceptions permitted by the labor law in Germany, based on collective agreements and company and service regulations, and these exceptions include the following:

• It is possible to work more than 10 hours per day if a large part of it consists of a regular on-call duty.
• Extending the 24-week period for compensating the exceeding of regular daily working hours for a maximum period of one year only.
• The possibility of extending working time to 10 hours per day in case of obtaining written approval and the absence of any health risks.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women must not work more than 8.5 hours according to the Maternity Protection Act.
• Young people between the ages of 15 and 18 are not allowed to work more than 8 hours according to the Youth Employment Protection Act.
• The time spent by trainees at vocational school is considered working time.
• People with special needs and severe disabilities may be exempted from working hours exceeding 8 hours per day.

Read also – The 7 most important types of employment contracts in Germany and their conditions

What is the break system from work in Germany?

It should be noted that the Working Hours Law in Germany does not consider break time as part of working hours, and therefore break time is mandatory in all jobs.

Break time is estimated at about 30 minutes for working hours ranging between 6 and 9 hours, with the possibility of dividing the break time into two periods, each lasting 15 minutes.

However, the break must be taken after a maximum of 6 hours of work, and in the case of working for more than 9 hours, a break of about 45 minutes is required.

Read also – What are the duties and rights of the Jobcenter in Germany and how can you obtain it?

Penalties for Violating the Working Hours Law in Germany

Of course, there are many sectors within Germany that do not comply with the working hours law in the country, and therefore they are subject to many penalties imposed as a result of violating the law. These cases include the following:

1. Violation of the employment contract: If the contract stipulates very long working hours, it is not considered completely invalid, but only a part of it, provided that the maximum working hours limit of 48 hours per week is applied.
2. Administrative violation: If the employee is allowed to work for more than 10 hours, the employer commits an administrative violation according to Article 22, Paragraph 1, Number 1, and may be subject to a fine estimated at 15,000 euros.
3. Refusal of work: The employee may refuse to work beyond the permitted hours because they are considered illegal.
4. Overtime pay: If you work more hours than those mentioned in the employment contract, you have the right to receive overtime pay.

Also read – How to get job opportunities in Germany without language requirements

Frequently Asked Questions About Working Hours in Germany

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