A third of life in the reform is too much – German minister looks at the US (and not for tariffs)

Katherina Reiche repeats the idea: Germans need to work harder and for more time. And look how it is done in the US.

The appeal is not new: throughout this year, the Chancellor Friedrich Merz since it wants the Germans “need to work more And above all, more efficiently.

In part, it is a fight against much commented, admitted Merz himself: “With a week of 4 days and balance between personal and professional life, we will not be able to maintain the prosperity of this country.”

Although this idea of working more can be one, now is the Minister of the Economy of Germany who repeats her: “Demographic change and the continuous increase in life expectancy make it inevitable: a Active life requires increasing“.

“Anyway, It cannot be good for a long term to work only two thirds of our adult life and spend a third of life in reform. We have to work harder and longer“Katherina Reiche reinforced in an interview with the newspaper.

The system of social security In Germany is “Overloaded”, Because people live until later – and the minister warns that you also need to work later, to support this new demography. There are many people who refuse to accept the new demographic reality for a long time, complains.

Katherina Reiche spoke about the economy USA – And this time, it was not to complain about those imposed by Donald Trump over the past few months.

In conversations with employers, the minister knew that, In the US, employees work 1,800 hours a year; In Germany, and in the same company, employees work 1,340 hours per year. “In international comparison, the Germans work less, on average,” criticized Reiche.

The Minister of the Economy sees a Dangerous combination: The possible collapse of Social Security, the salary -related work costs, taxes and fees – all “will make the workforce non -competitive in Germany in the long run.”

Regarding recent numbers about the economy in Germany, which point to better growth predictions, Katherina Reiche does not enter hasty celebrations: “A Economy can cool again after the early exports of spring. ”