Increase in Work Hours Recorded: 2.6 million additional hours worked within the city and county of Fürth

In the heart of Bavaria, the hospitality industry in Fürth has been facing a challenging landscape, with chefs, service staff, and bartenders working an estimated 31,000 overtime hours. This trend is not limited to Fürth alone, as the surrounding county has seen approximately 14,000 overtime hours clocked.

These longer working hours, as suggested by the changes, are raising concerns among workers and unions. The Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG), a prominent union in the industry, finds the increase in overtime hours and the high number of unpaid hours alarming.

The NGG's concerns are not just limited to the industry itself. They are also worried about the societal consequences of longer working hours, particularly in an industry that is already struggling with a skills shortage. The union advocates for more attractive working conditions, training, and better organization of work and family life instead of longer workdays.

The NGG Nuremberg-Fürth branch expects additional strain on employees due to proposed changes to the Working Hours Act. These changes could further increase the already high number of overtime hours, potentially leading to further staff losses due to excessive shifts.

The proposed changes could pose significant health risks, according to the NGG. Moreover, the NGG predicts that these changes would exacerbate the high number of unpaid overtime hours, as reported by the Working Time Monitor.

The Working Time Monitor, created by the Pestel Institute, reports that a significant portion of these extra hours were unpaid. In Fürth, around 914,000 hours of overtime were unpaid, while in the county, 467,000 hours went unpaid. These figures are based on nationwide averages from the Federal Employment Agency, adjusted for regional figures.

The proposed changes to the Working Hours Act, which could allow workweeks of up to 73.5 hours, a relaxation of the current 8-hour day and weekly maximum working hours, have sparked debate and concern. The Arbeitszeittabelle (working time table) for Fürth and the surrounding districts, created by the Pestel Institute, was published by the city of Fürth, referenced as the "Arbeitszeit-Monitor," in 2025.

As the hospitality industry in Fürth navigates these challenges, the NGG calls for a reconsideration of the proposed changes to the Working Hours Act, advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being and fair treatment of its workforce.

Increase in Work Hours Recorded: 2.6 million additional hours worked within the city and county of Fürth