Germany
Background information on industrial relations in Germany
- 23 Dec 2010
Germany: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Metal sector – GermanyThe aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the metal sector in Germany. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.
- 13 Dec 2010
Germany: Pact on apprenticeships prolonged until 2014In October 2010, the German federal government and umbrella business organisations extended the pact on apprenticeships for another four years. The pact, set up in 2004, was designed to help more young people gain apprenticeships and to ensure the future supply of skilled labour. It was first renewed in 2007, and this latest agreement aims at creating 60,000 new apprenticeships every year until 2014, provided that there are enough applicants.
- 23 Nov 2010
Germany: New legislation to link public procurement to observance of minimum labour standardsA recent survey by the Institute of Economic and Social Research shows that most of the 16 German federal states want to link public procurement to collectively agreed minimum labour standards. Five states have already passed such laws with another four announcing legislation for the near future. The new coalition government in North Rhine-Westphalia has similar plans. This follows a 2008 ruling by the European Court of Justice that laws enacted by Lower Saxony on this subject contravened European law.
- 15 Nov 2010
Germany: Debate on the future of skilled labourAt the end of August 2010, the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology met representatives of German business associations to discuss possible solutions to the shortage of skilled labour that is being experienced during the recovery from the global economic crisis. While the opinions of the social partners differ, recent research also confirms the need for urgent action in this area.
- 06 Oct 2010
Germany: Germany: Posted workersIn Germany the situation of posted workers is regulated by the Posted Workers Act (Arbeitnehmer-Entsendegesetz) which came into force in 1996 - even before the EU Directive. In recent years this legislation has become much debated in so far as it was used to implement national collectively agreed minimum wages in a number of chosen industries. Overall data on posted workers does not exist in Germany, the available data for the construction industry indicates that some 53,000 workers were posted to Germany in this industry in 2008, indicating a substantial decline compared to 2004, when some 76,000 posted workers were registered in this industry.
- 10 Sep 2010
Germany: Labour Court ruling on collective agreements provokes social partner debateIn June 2010, Germany’s Federal Labour Court ruled that different collective agreements can exist in one company. This decision has provoked a heated debate among the country’s social partners. The German Confederation of Employers’ Associations and the Confederation of Trade Unions have jointly called for a return to the principle that only one collective agreement should apply at company level. Occupational unions, on the other hand, have welcomed the court’s decision.
- 02 Sep 2010
Germany: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Inland water transport – GermanyThe aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the inland water transport industry in Germany. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.
- 31 Aug 2010
Germany: New national minimum wages for care workersOn 1 August 2010, new national minimum wages for care workers came into force in Germany. The employees covered will be entitled to an hourly minimum wage of €8.50 in western Germany, including Berlin, and €7.50 in eastern Germany. The minimum wages, declared binding under the Posted Workers Act, will affect between 520,000 and 560,000 caregivers out of a total of 810,000 care workers and will apply to all employees regardless of the country of origin of their employer.
- 10 Aug 2010
Germany: Interim report on 2010 bargaining roundIn July 2010, the Institute of Economic and Social Research presented its interim report on Germany’s 2010 round of collective bargaining which was strongly affected by the economic crisis. The study evaluates agreements concluded in the first half of 2010 which affect about 37% of all employees whose working conditions are determined by collective bargaining. The average annual increase in wages and salaries will be around 1.7% in 2010, well below the average of 2.6% in 2009.
- 23 Jul 2010
Germany: New collective agreement concluded in chemicals industryIn April 2010, a new collective agreement in Germany’s chemicals industry was concluded by the Mining, Chemicals and Energy Industrial Union and the German Federation of Chemical Employers’ Associations. The agreement provides for lump-sum payments, and includes a number of measures to combat the effects of the recession. New regional networks are to be set up, as well as a fund to support companies that offer continuing employment to trainees completing their apprenticeships.
- 01 Jul 2010
Germany: Assessing employee representation and collective bargaining coverageTo coincide with the May Day celebrations, the social partners gave their assessment of the inner workings of the German collective bargaining system. Employers in the metal and electrical industry highlighted that the decline in collective bargaining coverage has been stopped. Latest data from the Institute for Employment Research show that around 32% of establishments with about 52% of employees were directly covered by a sectoral collective agreement in 2009.
- 23 Jun 2010
Germany: Gender impact of recovery packages investigatedA study investigating the impact of Germany’s recovery packages on male and female employment shows that these packages benefited male-dominated sectors and reduced employment decline among men. In contrast, female employment increased slightly, even though female-dominated services sectors were not targeted. The study warns that the crisis will hit these services sectors in the long run. Meanwhile, no policy measures have been taken to prevent a future decline in women’s employment.
- 23 Jun 2010
Germany: DGB membership declines slightly in 2009According to the latest figures from the Confederation of German Trade Unions, the membership levels of its affiliated trade unions decreased by 1.7% in 2009. Compared with 2008, the decline accelerated slightly. Against the background of the economic crisis, the overall decline remained modest. Moreover, some trade unions, such as the Police Union and most notably the German Union of Education, even recorded membership gains, especially among young members.
- 07 Jun 2010
Germany: Germany – Developments in social partner organisations: employer organisationsEmployer organisations play a decisive role in a variety of fields, such as collective wage bargaining, developments in legislation and the formation of economic and social policy. In particular, national peak employer organisations shape a broad range of issues via their direct and indirect influence on consultative processes at the national and international level. While the role of peak organisations has not considerably changed in recent years, new developments are to be observed at the sectoral level. Employer organisations in certain sectors have endeavoured to enhance their influence by reorganising their structures.
- 01 Jun 2010
Germany: Sectoral and gender differences in staffing and pay cutsAn employee survey published by the Institute of Economic and Social Research indicates that staffing reductions and modifications to pay and employment conditions varied according to sector and – due to job and sectoral segregation – by gender. Female-dominated services sectors were less affected by staff and pay cuts than male-dominated industries. On average, 72% of respondents stated that the company management had made use of staffing reduction measures.
- 28 May 2010
Germany: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Catering sector – GermanyThe aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the contract catering sector in Germany. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.
- 17 May 2010
Germany: Trade union strategies to recruit new groups of workers – GermanyAlthough a number of trade unions have engaged in a range of initiatives to reverse membership decline and to expand trade union presence in private services where union membership is comparatively low, the overall turnaround is still a significant challenge. Some notable successes show that if trade unions would concentrate their efforts on organising and recruitment, while refocusing on a stronger involvement of members, they could improve their membership situation.
- 13 May 2010
Germany: Social partners promote transitional employment optionsIn April 2010, the social partners in the west-central German state of Hesse announced a new initiative called ‘HessenTransfer’. The measure aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises at regional level by offering them transitional employment schemes in times of economic crisis. The social partners aim to promote transitional employment agencies and transitional companies to place surplus labour.
- 10 May 2010
Germany: Agreement to safeguard jobs signed in metalworking industryThe bargaining parties in the German metalworking and electrical industry have settled collective agreement packages that focus on safeguarding employment and on training rather than pay increases. The packages provide for collectively agreed short-time working and provide for a new scheme of ‘training leave’. Agreements reached in Baden-Württemberg and North-Rhine Westphalia in February 2010 served as pilot agreements for all other bargaining regions.
- 27 Apr 2010
Germany: Addressing the gender pay gap: Government and social partner actions – GermanyThe gender pay gap and measures which might reduce it rank high on the agenda of the government and the social partner organisations, as can be seen from the many initiatives that have been launched over the last few years. However, while the unions claim that voluntary programmes and initiatives have not proved successful in reducing the gender pay gap and promoting gender mainstreaming and thus call for legislative action, the employers’ associations strongly oppose any mandatory measures by the government addressing issues such as pay and recruitment.
- 19 Apr 2010
Germany: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Footwear industry – GermanyThe aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the footwear industry in Germany. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.
- 09 Apr 2010
Germany: Annual report on 2009 collective bargaining roundIn January 2010, the Hans Böckler Institute for Economic and Social Research presented its annual report on Germany’s 2009 collective bargaining round. The study found that a further 7.9 million employees received pay increases in 2009. The average increase in collectively agreed wages and salaries was 2.6% in 2009, which was below the 2.9% increase of the previous year. The average duration of pay agreements signed in 2009 was 24.1 months, compared with 22.4 months in 2008.
- 16 Mar 2010
Germany: Latest labour market figures spark debate on 2010 wage increasesAccording to the latest monthly bulletin of the Federal Employment Agency, from November to December 2009 the total number of unemployed persons in Germany rose slightly to about 3.3 million people. As unemployment is expected to increase sharply in 2010, the scope for what may be considered reasonable wage increases in the upcoming bargaining rounds has recently been the subject of heated debate among economists and representatives of trade unions and employer organisations.
- 16 Mar 2010
Germany: Court ruling abolishes minimum wages in postal services sectorAt the end of January 2010, the Federal Administrative Court declared that the previous German government’s decree on mandatory working conditions for mail delivery services was deficient. The latest ruling ended an ongoing dispute on the lawfulness of the introduction of minimum wages in the postal services sector. It provoked, however, a heated debate among the social partners.
- 15 Mar 2010
Germany: Agreement creates collective staffing pool in metal and electrical industryIn December 2009, the Ruhr Employer Association and the North-Rhine Westphalia Metalworkers’ Union concluded a collective agreement that provides for a temporary staffing pool among manufacturers in the metal and electrical industry in the Ruhr region in western Germany. The Ruhr Agreement is the largest of its kind in Germany in terms of coverage rate to date. However, the outcome of the agreement remains to be seen.
- 19 Feb 2010
Germany: Germany: EIRO annual review - 2008Industrial relations in most of 2008 were still marked by the economic upswing in the economy pver the last years. The average collectively agreed increase in wages and salaries was 2.9% in 2008, which was above the 2.2% increase of 2007. In the last quarter of 2008 it became clear that the world wide financial crisis would also affect the German economy. Trade unions and employer organisations differed on the need for state intervention and economic stimulus packages.
- 17 Feb 2010
Germany: Coalition government proposes measures to promote equal opportunitiesIn their coalition agreement concluded in October 2009, the newly elected federal government of the Christian Democratic and Liberal Democtaric parties proposed several measures to foster equal opportunities and a better reconciliation of family and working life. However, as recent data released by the Institute of Employment Research show, the majority of establishments have not yet concluded agreements on promoting equal opportunities at the company level.
- 10 Feb 2010
Germany: Germany: Individual disputes at the workplace – alternative disputes resolutionThere are no alternative dispute resolution measures established in Germany. In addition to the traditional way of individual dispute resolution via labour courts, the works councils play an important role in resolving disputes before they come to court. Both trade unions and employers’ associations are rather sceptical towards the introduction of institutionalised mediation procedures into labour law.
- 26 Jan 2010
Germany: Manufacturing companies show positive attitude towards older workersA survey of manufacturing and affiliated industries shows that companies cultivate a favourable attitude towards their older workers, which improves as the number of workers aged 50 years and over rises. However, where companies question older workers’ performance, employment protection legislation is likely to discourage their recruitment. At present, human resources policies for elderly employees aim to ensure the knowledge transfer between older and younger workers.
- 19 Jan 2010
Germany: Working time accounts and short-time work used to maintain employmentAccording to a survey by the Institute of Economic and Social Research, 51% of all companies with 20 and more employees and a works council are affected by the economic crisis. However, only a minority of companies have massively laid off workers. The survey revealed that the two most widespread methods used to cut costs while maintaining employment levels have been working time accounts and short-time work. Nonetheless, cuts in employment have also occurred in various ways.
- 18 Jan 2010
Germany: Gender pay gap shown to exist even at start of careerA survey carried out by the Institute of Economic and Social Research reveals that, even at the start of their career, women earn considerably less than their male counterparts. Compared with the gender pay gap among older employees, the gap among those starting their career is slightly smaller in western Germany, but is wider in eastern Germany. The gender pay gap among career starters varies considerably according to economic sector and occupation.
- 12 Jan 2010
Germany: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Civil aviation – GermanyThe aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the civil aviation industry in Germany. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.