“ADFR strongly opposes these changes. They would weaken workers' rights for no good reason: the generous business help we've always guaranteed is also aimed at fostering a healthy, modern and "first-world country" job market. Concerning gig workers, they deserve the same basic protections as other employees because they're almost never actually self-employed, as their work rhythms are decided by an employer's algorithm. As for the 35-hour week, it's one of our battles: work smart, not hard; full strike rights likewise are essential to a fair working life and a liberal principle above all. We also oppose raising the retirement age to 70. People should not be expected to spend ever more of their lives working when our wealth and productivity allow for a decent retirement. Our country's been growing, unemployment is as low as ever and all polls indicate our citizens are happy: ruining social harmony for the sake of ideology doesn't mean being patriots, but rather the opposite.”
Economic Boost Act of 2022
Rationale
Balancing worker protections with economic competitiveness to reduce business costs while maintaining essential safeguards for vulnerable workers.
Proposed Changes
| Law | Previous | Proposed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gig Economy & Platform Workers |
Gig workers classified as employees with full rights (sick pay, holiday, pensions)
|
Basic protections (minimum pay, accident insurance) for gig workers
|
|
| 2 | Maximum Working Hours |
35-hour weekly maximum
|
40-hour weekly maximum with overtime controls
|
|
| 3 | Minimum Wage Policy |
High living wage
|
Basic minimum wage
|
|
| 4 | Retirement Age Policy |
Retirement at 65
|
Retirement at 70
|
|
| 5 | Trade Union Rights |
Full collective bargaining and strike rights
|
Unions permitted but strikes severely limited (cooling-off periods; binding arbitration)
|
1
Gig Economy & Platform Workers2
Maximum Working Hours3
Minimum Wage Policy4
Retirement Age Policy5
Trade Union RightsProposer
Party
Homeland Alliance
A movement for citizens who believe that a nation's strength begins at home. The Homeland Alliance works to defend national interests, support hardworking families, and build a future based on stability, responsibility, and opportunity for all.
Core pillars
Werner Müller
Activist · Age 61
A once-successful small-business owner who entered politics after a personal scandal exposed the hypocrisy of the establishment, Werner Müller’s charisma and street-smart instincts have made him a magnetic figure among disillusioned voters.
Timeline
-
Draft3 December 2022
-
Vote Open3 December 2022
-
Vote Closed1 February 2023
-
Became Law1 February 2023
Vote tally
Live tally across each chamber. Weighted by seats held.
Bundesrat
PassedFor: 34 / 69 seats (49.3%)
Against: 33 · Abstained: 0 · Not voted: 2
| Party | Seats | Vote | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights | 23 | No | ADFR strongly opposes these changes. They would weaken workers' rights for no good reason: the generous business help we've always guaranteed is also aimed at fostering a healthy, modern and "first-world country" job market. Concerning gig workers, they deserve the same basic protections as other employees because they're almost never actually self-employed, as their work rhythms are decided by an employer's algorithm. As for the 35-hour week, it's one of our battles: work smart, not hard; full strike rights likewise are essential to a fair working life and a liberal principle above all. We also oppose raising the retirement age to 70. People should not be expected to spend ever more of their lives working when our wealth and productivity allow for a decent retirement. Our country's been growing, unemployment is as low as ever and all polls indicate our citizens are happy: ruining social harmony for the sake of ideology doesn't mean being patriots, but rather the opposite. |
| Homeland Alliance Proposer | 10 | Yes | No reason given |
| Left Forward | 10 | No | The problem with this bill is who is being asked to pay for the supposed economic boost. Workers get fewer rights, longer hours, lower wages and five more years before retirement. Unions are left with little power to defend them. Calling that competitiveness doesn't change who carries the cost. |
| Saxenheim Workers’ Union | 24 | Yes | No explanation needed. We support this. |
| Empty seats | 5 | Not voted |
Bundestag
PassedFor: 320 / 650 seats (49.2%)
Against: 310 · Abstained: 0 · Not voted: 20
| Party | Seats | Vote | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights | 219 | No | ADFR strongly opposes these changes. They would weaken workers' rights for no good reason: the generous business help we've always guaranteed is also aimed at fostering a healthy, modern and "first-world country" job market. Concerning gig workers, they deserve the same basic protections as other employees because they're almost never actually self-employed, as their work rhythms are decided by an employer's algorithm. As for the 35-hour week, it's one of our battles: work smart, not hard; full strike rights likewise are essential to a fair working life and a liberal principle above all. We also oppose raising the retirement age to 70. People should not be expected to spend ever more of their lives working when our wealth and productivity allow for a decent retirement. Our country's been growing, unemployment is as low as ever and all polls indicate our citizens are happy: ruining social harmony for the sake of ideology doesn't mean being patriots, but rather the opposite. |
| Homeland Alliance Proposer | 91 | Yes | No reason given |
| Left Forward | 91 | No | The problem with this bill is who is being asked to pay for the supposed economic boost. Workers get fewer rights, longer hours, lower wages and five more years before retirement. Unions are left with little power to defend them. Calling that competitiveness doesn't change who carries the cost. |
| Saxenheim Workers’ Union | 229 | Yes | No explanation needed. We support this. |
| Empty seats | 52 | Not voted |
Voting record
Every vote must state a public reason. Most recent first.
“No explanation needed. We support this.”
“The problem with this bill is who is being asked to pay for the supposed economic boost. Workers get fewer rights, longer hours, lower wages and five more years before retirement. Unions are left with little power to defend them. Calling that competitiveness doesn't change who carries the cost.”