Interview during summertime with Friedrich Merz, discussing fact-checked claims on sick days and working hours

In a recent summer interview on ZDF, Friedrich Merz discussed various topics related to labor costs, productivity, working hours, and sick leave in Germany.

Merz's statement about high labor costs in Germany is mostly correct. In 2024, the average cost of a working hour in Germany was 43.40 euros, which was around 30 percent higher than the EU average. However, it's important to note that Germany also has a lower share of wage-related costs, at 23.3 percent of total labor costs, compared to the EU average of 24.7 percent.

When comparing Germany's labor productivity to other European countries, there is a need for context, according to the RWI. While Germany's productivity is far above average, the comparison of working hours over ten years lacks the necessary detail.

In contrast, Germany has one of the highest sick leave rates in Europe. Employees absent from work due to illness had an average of 14.8 days off in 2024, and Germany had the most paid sick leave days in Europe in 2022, with 24.9 days, according to an analysis by the research institute Iges.

Merz claimed that Germans work 200 hours less than the Swiss, but it's not specified how this comparison was made. The comparison is based on an analysis by the employer-friendly Institute of the German Economy (IW), using OECD data from 2023. Experts warn that relying solely on such data can be misleading due to gaps and variations in the degree of underreporting between countries.

The interview also touched upon the topic of taxes. Merz stated that the CDU, CSU, and SPD had agreed in the coalition agreement not to increase taxes. However, it appears that this agreement does not appear in the coalition document. It's important to note that the coalition agreement is not legally binding, and if tax increases were ruled out, they would have no legal significance.

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil had not ruled out tax increases recently, and if such increases were implemented, they could potentially impact labor costs in Germany.

If the part-time quota were weighted correctly, Germany would be in the middle of the rankings, according to Katharina Höhl, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering and Organization.

In terms of the EU comparison, Germany ranks 7th in terms of labor costs. Labor costs are even higher in countries like Luxembourg, Belgium, or France.

In 2023, Germany ranked third from last, ahead of France and Belgium, with an average of 1,036 working hours, when considering all inhabitants of working age (15-64 years).

Overall, the interview provided insight into various aspects of labor in Germany, but it's essential to approach such data with caution and consider the context and potential limitations of the comparisons being made.

Interview during summertime with Friedrich Merz, discussing fact-checked claims on sick days and working hours