In Germany, a 12-hour workday is being discussed: what changes are being prepared for workers

In Germany, they are discussing a 12-hour workday, reducing quotas for workers from the Western Balkans, and tightening the requirements for the DTZ language exam. These changes have varying statuses: some remain proposals, while the new exam rules will come into effect in November. This is reported by Digi24.

Workday in Germany: what is proposed for change in 2026

The government plans to allow defining the maximum duration of work per week instead of a daily limit. This could enable longer working hours on some days, compensating for the load with shorter shifts or additional weekends.

Currently, the general rule allows for an eight-hour workday. It can be extended to ten hours if, over six calendar months or 24 weeks, the average duration does not exceed eight hours per workday.

Thus, the announcement of 12-hour shifts does not mean that such a schedule has already become the norm. Redistributing the same working hours also does not guarantee an increase in monthly salaries.

Employers support greater flexibility in schedules. Trade unions, on the other hand, warn against overworking and difficulties in balancing work and family life.

If you are interested in working in Germany, we suggest you explore 140,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.

Foreign workers and the DTZ exam: what changes are being prepared for 2026-2027

Separately, the government intends to reduce the annual quota under the Western Balkans rule from 50,000 to 25,000 approvals for employment from January 2027. The Federal Employment Agency opposed this, warning of a risk of worsening the labor shortage.

This mechanism concerns citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. It is not a general quota for all foreigners and does not directly determine the employment of Ukrainians in Germany.

Instead, starting from November 1, 2026, the conditions for obtaining the B1 result on the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer exam will be changed. For this, one must demonstrate:

• B1 level in oral communication;
• B1 level in at least one block: listening/reading or writing;
• at least A2 in the second of these two blocks.

Thus, leaving the written task blank and obtaining an overall B1 result will no longer be possible. At the same time, the requirement does not mean that each part of the exam must necessarily be passed at the B1 level.

Language knowledge remains important for job searching in Europe. However, the changes in DTZ concern a specific integration exam, not an automatic tightening of all language tests or the introduction of a new condition for every foreign worker.