Politicians from the Left and the Greens propose compensating for public holidays falling on weekends with substitute days during the week. They cite practices in other countries and argue for fairness to workers. The Union criticizes the idea as harmful to the economy.
The debate over public holidays in Germany has gained momentum, as several will fall on weekends in 2026. The Day of German Unity on October 3 and the second Christmas holiday on December 26 will be on a Saturday nationwide. In Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, International Women's Day on March 8 is a Sunday, while All Saints' Day on November 1 and Reformation Day on October 31 also fall on weekends.
Left Party leader Jan van Aken demanded in the Tagesspiegel: "If a public holiday falls on a weekend, there must be a substitute date – during the week, for everyone." He stressed that people are being "cheated out of their deserved free time" and compared it to standards in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Spain. Parliamentary group leader Sören Pellmann added in the Rheinische Post that over 85 countries, including Spain, the UK, Poland, and the US, have such compensation rules.
Greens parliamentarian Timon Dzienus, chairman of the Bundestag committee on labor and social affairs, told the Rheinische Post: "For employees, it's not just annoying but unfair when holidays fall on the weekend." He argued that well-rested workers benefit employers too and that this is crucial for work-life balance amid skilled labor shortages.
The Union offered sharp criticism. Gitta Connemann, chair of the Small Business and Economic Union, called the proposal "absurd" in the Tagesspiegel and warned: "The bill would be paid by small businesses and the German location." One holiday causes a production loss of 8.6 billion euros, and Germany cannot afford a "holiday mentality." According to the Federal Statistical Office, 2026 will have 250.5 workdays nationwide – 2.4 more than the current year.
