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- 3-2-1- It's time to talk about the 8-hour workday
3-2-1- It's time to talk about the 8-hour workday
A new law could change everything
Sana Ahmad
May 14, 2026
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Welcome back to the Munich Post! The purpose of this newsletter is to share: 3 bits of news, 2 upcoming events, and 1 amazing restaurant/café for expats living in and around Munich. This way, you have a pulse on what’s going on without scrolling through thousands of pages.
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Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:
Hope you're enjoying the public holiday today – and if you're a dad, happy Father's Day.
Munich also has its new city leadership locked in. On Monday, the city council elected Mona Fuchs (Greens) as Second Mayor, with 48 out of 58 votes. Verena Dietl (SPD) was re-elected as Third Mayor with 49. Mayor Dominik Krause says he's worked closely with both for years so at least the new team skips the small talk and gets straight to work.
3 bits of news
Munich's new parking app promises less circling
Munich's HandyParken app just got a big update. Enter your destination and it shows multiple routes, a parking availability forecast, and park-and-ride options near U-Bahn and tram stops.
The app offers two options. Drive the whole way, or park near an S-Bahn, U-Bahn, or tram stop and take public transit the rest of the way. The second option is often faster. Park-and-ride spots outside the center are also cheaper, and the app shows actual capacity, rates, and estimated wait times before you leave the house.
The update was built by SWM and MVG, commissioned by Munich's Mobility Department. It's available now in the HandyParken München app.
Germany is about to change how long you can be made to work
Germany's Working Time Act is getting an overhaul. The Merz government plans to scrap the daily eight-hour limit and replace it with a weekly cap instead. Labor Minister Bärbel Bas confirmed in the Bundestag that a draft law lands in June.
Right now, the rules are clear: eight hours a day, ten in exceptional cases, 48 hours a week on average. Under the new plan, only the weekly total would matter. That sounds flexible – until someone does the math.
Labor lawyers at the Hans Böckler Foundation did exactly that. Factor in the mandatory 11-hour rest period and a 45-minute break, and a single workday could legally run to 12 hours and 15 minutes. Six days a week, that's 73.5 hours. The weekly average still applies over time – but individual weeks could get very long, very fast.
Great news and bad news about Munich Hauptbahnhof
Munich Hauptbahnhof scored 17th place in AllClear's global ranking of premium train stations – ahead of Berlin and of most of Europe, but behind Zurich and a suspiciously large number of Japanese cities. The ranking looked at lounges, dining, shops, reviews, and nearby hotels. Conveniently, it did not ask about delays.
While Munich is being celebrated as a top-tier station, Deutsche Bahn is preparing a €20 million temporary terminal at the south exit in Ludwigsvorstadt It opens mid-2027, lasts ten years, and sits five floors above a World War II bunker. Ticket sales, lockers, a DB Lounge, and a police holding cell will be included. Then it gets demolished.
All of this is part of the larger rebuild that will place the future Hauptbahnhof around 40 meters underground; making it the deepest in Germany. Natural light will reach the platform level, which is genuinely impressive. Just don't hold your breath on a timeline.
Bonus:
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2 upcoming events
Munich's loudest protest is back this Saturday
The Krachparade is back. Over 40 collectives, bands, and initiatives are marching through the city this Saturday to demand affordable housing and cultural spaces. The message is simple: Noise Up, Rents Down. If you've ever complained about Munich rents, this one's for you.
Past editions drew 15,000 to 20,000 people. No political parties, no corporations – just music, speakers, and a lot of noise. The parade kicks off at Geschwister-Scholl-Platz in Maxvorstadt and works its way through the city center.
It's FREE, it's loud, and it makes a point that most Munich residents – expats included – can relate to. Bring your voice or just show up and watch.
Find more information here (in German).
General information:
📍 Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, 80539 München
⏰ Saturday, May 16, 2pm
🎟️ FREE
Your Sunday just got a lot more interesting and cheaper
International Museum Day is this Sunday, May 17, and a string of Munich museums are FREE. The Lenbachhaus in Maxvorstadt has free entry all day–guided tours, a climate workshop, and an open dance session in the garden from 6:30pm. The Alpine Museum on Praterinsel has free admission, a children's scavenger hunt, a mountain book flea market, and short guided tours all day.
The best timing goes to Museum Villa Stuck on Prinzregentenstraße in Bogenhausen – it just reopened today after a full renovation, and Museum Day is your first real chance to see it. Four new exhibitions, restored rooms, a new canteen, and curator-led tours. All free.
Most museums run their programs from 10am to 6pm. Check individual museum websites before heading out, as some tours require registration.
Find more information here (in German).
General information:
📍 Various locations across Munich
⏰ Sunday, May 17, 10am–6pm
🎟️ FREE at selected Museums
Bonus:
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1 new restaurant/café to try
Hey Lia
If you've been to Onni Korean Delights by Yuyumi, the team behind two popular spots at Isartor and Münchener Freiheit – their newest addition is worth knowing about. Hey Lia opened in February on Fraunhoferstraße in Glockenbachviertel, right near Gärtnerplatz.
The menu is Korean street food: Bibimbap in a hot stone pot, Korean fried chicken, Tteokbokki in a few different variations, and Gimbap. The Bibimbap gets the most praise with its stone pot that gives it a depth you don't get from a regular bowl.
Prices are reasonable and portions are solid with the food quality consistent. Three Munich locations, one kitchen team, so they clearly know what they're doing.
General information:
📍 Fraunhoferstraße 5, 80469 München
🥘 Korean
⏰ Monday–Thursday, 11:30am–10pm
Friday–Sunday, Noon–10pm
Visit Hey Lia
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Meme of the week 😂
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Aazar, Christina, Heidi and Sana
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