Bavarian Premier Markus Söder (CSU) has announced plans to sharply restrict part-time options for civil servants, a move that has sparked fierce backlash from unions and teachers’ associations.
The proposal would particularly affect school staff, where more than half of all teachers currently work part-time.
Speaking to Bavarian media, Söder criticized the high rate of part-time employment in schools, noting that “in primary schools, over 60 percent of staff are part-time.”
He argued that it makes little sense to hire lateral entrants when “well-trained personnel” are already available but not working full hours.
Planned changes to part-time rules
Under Söder’s proposal:
- Family-related part-time would be restricted to parents of children under 15 years (currently under 18).
- Minimum working hours would increase from 8 to 12 per week.
- For other forms of voluntary part-time, a minimum of 50 percent of full-time hours would be required.
Unions describe the plan as a “massive intervention” in the lives of civil servants. Manuela Dietz of the service union Verdi said it was “a direct attack on the democratic foundations of public service.”
Teachers’ associations warn of broken trust
The backlash among teachers is particularly strong. Many part-time staff had only recently increased their hours voluntarily to ease Bavaria’s teacher shortage. Now, they feel betrayed.
The Philologists’ Association spoke of a “breach of trust”.
The Bavarian Teachers’ Association (BLLV) warned of severe consequences, saying more teachers may resign or take full leave to care for children or relatives.
Association president Simone Fleischmann stressed: “We need more teachers, more support staff and more appreciation – not less.”
Her deputy, Gerd Nitschke, warned of health risks: “Already, more than 1,800 colleagues are on limited duty due to illness.”
Coalition partner not convinced
Even the Free Voters, Söder’s coalition partner, are hesitant. Parliamentary leader Florian Streibl said his party would review the plans carefully in the faction and possibly in the coalition committee.
Education Minister Anna Stolz (Free Voters) had pursued a different strategy, relying on voluntary increases in working hours rather than legal restrictions.
By the start of the school year, many teachers had indeed agreed to work more hours. Critics now argue that Söder’s announcement undermines this progress.
Numbers and political stakes
Statistics support parts of Söder’s argument: 46 percent of Bavarian teachers are part-time, compared to a nationwide rate of 43 percent – a record high.
Among female teachers, the figure is more than 50 percent. In primary schools, where the female share is around 90 percent, part-time work is especially widespread.
Söder’s CSU insists clear legislation is necessary, but unions warn of an “own goal” that could make the profession even less attractive.
Whether the reforms will actually pass remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the “part-time shock” has deeply shaken trust between the government and educators.
