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Holiday dispute in Schleswig-Holstein: economy or tradition?
In Germany there is debate about whether public holidays should be abolished in order to increase GDP and solve economic problems.
Holiday dispute in Schleswig-Holstein: economy or tradition?
In the current debate about public holidays in Germany, economic aspects are becoming increasingly important. Moritz Schularick, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, is in favor of abolishing some public holidays in order to improve the economic situation. In Schleswig-Holstein, this proposal is being discussed controversially, with arguments for and against clashing.
Studies show that canceling a public holiday could increase gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 8.6 billion euros, according to the German Economic Institute in Cologne. An additional volume of work could amount to 0.2 percent of GDP. This idea appears to be taken seriously by economists as it is seen as a potential solution to strengthen the economy.
Pro arguments for abolishing holidays
Moritz Ohlsen, an NDR reporter, supports the idea of abolishing public holidays with some convincing arguments. German workers have the most vacation days in Europe on average, 30 days a year, while weekly working hours have fallen by more than four hours over the past three decades. In comparison, employees in Poland work five hours more per week.
The high disease rate is another argument. On average, German employees report sick 15 to 18 times per year. With economic growth forecast at just 0.1 percent for 2025 and rising debts, more work may be needed to resolve economic problems, Schularick believes.
Contra arguments and the meaning of holidays
Kennedy also emphasizes the cultural, religious and social significance of the holidays, which support the maintenance of traditions and strengthen social cohesion. Many economic sectors, such as retail, leisure and tourism, also benefit from holidays. The abolition could therefore have negative economic effects.
In addition, the question arises about alternatives to restructuring household budgets, such as closing tax loopholes for large corporations and wealthy individuals.
The complexity of holiday regulations varies depending on the federal state, which makes it difficult to find a uniform solution. Experts such as Christoph Schröder from the Institute of German Economy and Monika Schnitzer, head of the economists, have initiated the debate by citing Denmark as a role model. Clemens Fuest, President of the Ifo Institute, also advocates the cancellation of a public holiday in order to counteract the labor shortage.
On the other hand, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) rejected the proposals to delete it, as public holidays play an important role in the recovery and productivity of workers.
The debate about the abolition of public holidays remains characterized by conflicting opinions, with both economic considerations and cultural values playing a decisive role.
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