Business · Companies · 11 hrs ago
Deutsche Bank chief urges faster reforms and looser job protection
Christian Sewing, the head of Deutsche Bank, says Germany’s government is not moving quickly or firmly enough on reforms.
He wants it to cut bureaucracy and make it easier to dismiss some employees.
Rules already limit job protection for employees earning more than €180,000, and Sewing says the threshold should be lowered, though he did not say by how much.
He argues that employers need more flexibility in a fast-changing economy.
Sewing also called political developments in Germany a serious risk to the country’s economy and investment, and said reforms are needed to support growth.
He praised the planned retirement savings account, due to come at the turn of the year, and urged the government not to weaken it or its proposed pension reform.
He opposes the fuel tax rebate, saying its cost adds to public debt and it is unlikely to help for long.
Deutsche Bank chief Christian Sewing urged Germany’s government to extend weaker dismissal protections to more workers.
He said the existing change applies to employees earning more than 180,000 euros and should be expanded to lower-paid workers.
Sewing said the government’s reforms were too slow and not sufficiently decisive.
He described political developments as a serious risk to Germany’s position as a business location.
He also criticized the fuel tax rebate, saying it would not provide lasting help and added to public costs.
- Who
- Christian Sewing, chief of Deutsche Bank, called on Germany’s government to change dismissal protections.
- What
- He urged the government to extend the easing of dismissal protections to workers earning less than the current threshold.
- When
- October 11, 2026. The sources do not state when the interview took place.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Sewing said the country needed greater flexibility and faster reforms to support economic growth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We must extend this somewhat further down.
We must also tackle things that have naturally become dear to all of us: dismissal protection!
The development is extremely dangerous.
I am not a fan of the fuel tax rebate.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Current earnings threshold
- More than 180,000 euros
- Deutsche Bank chief
- Christian Sewing
- Interview outlet
- Bild am Sonntag
- Article publication date
- October 11, 2026
Sources
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