38-hour week to stay until 2008

The union IG Metall and the employers have agreed that the 38-hour week in the metalworking industry in the former East Germany will remain in place until at least 31 January 2008.

The union had wanted to bring working time for its members in the East down to the 35-hour week in place in the former West Germany since 1995.

However, a strike to achieve this was unsuccessful and was called of by the union at the end of June last year, leaving no agreement in place.

The current settlement means that the issue of reduced working-time is legally closed in metalworking in East Germany for the next four years.

Meanwhile the employers have renewed their pressure for greater flexibility on working time arrangements in the pay negotiations for the whole of Germany underway at present.

The employers were promising to set out both their response to the union's demand for a 4.0% increase and their proposals for company-level flexibility on working time as Workplace Report went to press.