New regulations on labor protection and workplace organization, proposed by German Labor Minister Andrea Nahles, caused disapproval among German employers.
The planned reform provides new workplace regulations, seen by many as useless and superfluous. They focus on issues such as mandatory windows for recreation rooms, personal lockers for all staff members and sufficient palm-sized space in front of a computer keyboards in home offices.
Amendments to the workplace regulations were adopted in October. Nahles wants the reform to pass through as quickly as possible as it is aimed to protect workers’ health. However, the planned reorganization has been criticized by many German employers, who called the new requirements “absurd”, with president of German Employers Ingo Kramer describing the plan as "bureaucratic madness."
Nahles, for her turn, showed willingness to compromise and says that she is ready to consider concessions on case by case basis.
