Childcare staff in Saxony are being told their working hours will be unilaterally reduced as falling enrollment numbers squeeze providers—but the union representing educators warns the move is illegal. Since June 10, employees at preschools and after-school care centres have reported that their employers are trimming their agreed schedules without consent.
“A unilateral reduction of the contracted working hours is unlawful,” the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) said in a statement. Any employer seeking to cut hours must issue a formal change dismissal that is socially justified, the union stressed, adding that works councils also have a say. The GEW urged affected workers not to sign any modification agreement without scrutiny.
The pushback from Sachsen’s educators comes as the federal government eyes its own savings on family
Courts Clarify Vacation and Social Benefit Rules During Parental Leave
The Federal Labour Court (BAG) has reaffirmed that employers may reduce holiday entitlement during parental leave—by one-twelfth for each full calendar month the employee is away. The ruling applies to contractual leave beyond the statutory minimum and is consistent with European law, the court noted.
Meanwhile, the Baden-Württemberg State Social Court specified how parental allowance interacts with basic income support. Job centres may only retain parental allowance up to the amount of basic security benefits actually paid. If overpayment occurs, the difference belongs to the parents. Affected individuals have one month to file an objection or up to four years to request a review.
Part-Time Work Persists as Childcare Gaps Remain
Part-time employment dominates family life in Germany, especially for mothers. Data from 2024 show that 68 percent of German mothers with minor children work part-time, compared to just 8 percent of fathers. In Switzerland, the figure for mothers with children at home is even higher at 74.9 percent. An analysis by the Swiss employers’ association challenges the notion that this is purely “lifestyle part-time work,” arguing many employees would increase their hours if conditions allowed.
The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) says reliable childcare significantly boosts the likelihood of mothers returning to full-time work. Yet 45 percent of parents with preschool-aged children report unplanned daycare closures, undermining that goal.
Swiss Parliament Moves to Protect Adoptive Mothers from Dismissal
Across the border, Switzerland is strengthening its own family protections. On June 11, the Swiss parliament voted overwhelmingly to improve dismissal protection for adoptive mothers, aiming to align their rights with those of biological mothers, who enjoy 16 weeks of protection after childbirth. The responsible committee of the Council of States will now draft a legislative proposal.
