Their GDP per capita is about 17% lower than the United States, but their GDP per hour worked is only 3% lower with their average work-week being 22% shorter than in the United States.

So, from a very narrow and short-sighted point of view.. they're just as productive as we are, but they have 1/3 our population and they work fewer hours which limits their ability to compete in the global marketplace.

For German companies that serve only domestically or within the EU, I doubt the councils are a problem or even an impediment.. but for companies that want to operate globally, I imagine it does reduce their ability to compete.

I guess the question for Germany is, do they want to sacrifice these broader protections and slightly better working conditions in order to improve profits for a handful of companies that can actually take advantage of it? I hope not, but it looks like the groundwork is already being laid for a campaign to change this.