The federal government wants to create financial incentives to work longer: employees should do more overtime, part-time workers should increase their working hours and people should continue working after they reach retirement age. I thought the world was upside down when I first heard this. Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) wants to spark employees’ “desire for overtime”. That must sound like a mockery to the ears of the completely overworked geriatric nurse. The federal government should think more carefully about how it can stimulate employers’ desire to pay for overtime. After all, far more than half of the 1.33 billion hours of overtime last year were unpaid.
In addition, the regulation disadvantages part-time workers, whose additional work will continue to be fully taxed. These are mostly women. In general, the federal government is doing equality a disservice. The probability that men in particular will work more is high. And will child-rearing and household chores then fall even more to women?
The federal government also clearly needs some help with the issue of part-time work. So many colleagues would be happy to work full-time, but their employers aren’t willing to go along with it. Cleaning and housekeeping are particularly often the only jobs offered for part-time work, and colleagues have to look for second or even third jobs. In addition, there are countless employees who simply can’t do it anymore and are taking refuge in part-time work. More money won’t help them; they need relief and better working conditions. Many work part-time because they are looking after their children or relatives who need care. We at ver.di are well aware of the problems of unreliable daycare opening times due to a lack of staff and the difficulty of not finding appropriate care for people who need care.
Many colleagues will probably find the plan that people should work longer than retirement age cynical. They cannot even imagine staying healthy until retirement. Our demands for good work are on the table. Incentives for longer working hours are not part of it.
