Fry: There is no strong economy without more work
The German politician Thorsten Frei from the CDU party has taken on the position of Head of the Chancellery and Minister of State for Special Affairs in the German government. In a press interview with the Bild newspaper, he made controversial statements about the concept of work-life balance, known as Work-Life-Balance.
Frei said: "We all must ensure that we do not lose the value of work while pursuing a balance between life and work." He emphasized that there are many people in Germany who are highly skilled and diligent, yet the number of working hours per individual in the country has seen a continuous decline in recent years, which must be taken into account when discussing economic growth.
Frey pointed out that the coalition government's agreement states that overtime work should be rewarded. Among the examples mentioned was the exemption of overtime bonuses from taxes and the implementation of an "active pension" system. He clarified that if a person decides to continue working after reaching the legal retirement age, they should be allowed to keep the first 2000 euros per month without tax deduction.
Regarding young people who prioritize work-life balance, Fry said: "I do not want to dictate to anyone how to live their life," but he emphasized at the same time that individual freedom should not come at the expense of others. He confirmed that those who receive basic financial support (Grundsicherung) and are able to work and are in good health should work in exchange for this income.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, belonging to the same party, expressed a similar stance, recently stating: "We will not be able to maintain the prosperity of this country with a four-day work week and work-life balance." Merz announced during his election campaign that he would work to stop granting "Bürgergeld" to those who refuse to work.