Maximum schedule and ordinary working hours
The German Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz) sets a maximum of 8 hours per day. It can be extended to 10 hours provided that, over a 6-month period, the average does not exceed 8 hours.
It also requires breaks: 30 minutes if you work more than 6 hours and 45 minutes if you exceed 9. The rest period between shifts must be at least 11 hours, and work on Sundays is prohibited except for authorised exceptions.
Minimum holiday in Germany
The legal minimum is 24 working days, calculated on a 6-day week. For the standard 5-day week, that equates to 20 days of holiday.
In practice, the market standard is much higher: most companies give between 25 and 30 days, and collective agreements usually set 30. It is a common point of negotiation when hiring.
Public holidays by Bundesland
Germany has 9 national public holidays, but each federal state (Bundesland) adds its own. Bavaria reaches 13 public holidays, while states such as Berlin stay at 9.
When planning shifts or holidays for a team in Germany, check the calendar of the specific Bundesland where your GmbH is located, not the national one: the difference can be several days off per year.
Collective agreements (Tarifverträge)
Beyond the law, each sector has a collective agreement (Tarifvertrag) that sets working hours, holidays and salaries above the legal minimum. Sectors such as metal, chemicals or construction have notably better conditions.
If your activity is covered by a collective agreement, it is the one that governs your employees, even if you are not a member of the employers' association. Identify the applicable agreement before setting conditions.
What it means for your GmbH
Hiring in Germany is not just setting a salary: it is respecting working hours, breaks, holidays and the collective agreement. The minimum wage (Mindestlohn) of €13.90 per hour is the floor, and on top of the gross salary social contributions of around 40% are added.
For a Spanish SME, the most practical approach is to rely on local German advisory services that prepare compliant contracts and manage payroll, avoiding mistakes that are harshly penalised in Germany.
