BASF, IG BCE and the Bertelsmann Foundation establish initiative for employment

In October 1998 in Germany, BASF, IG BCE and the Bertelsmann Foundation established an "initiative for employment", which includes the setting up of regional networks to boost local employment.

In October 1998, Jürgen Strube, chair of the German chemicals multinational, BASF AG, Hubertus Schmoldt, chair of the chemical, construction and energy workers' trade union, IG BCE, and Rheinhard Mohn, chair of the Bertelsmann Foundation, along with a number of other representatives from business and politics, established an "initiative for employment" (Initiative für Beschäftigung).

This initiative includes the setting up of regional networks of people from business, employment offices, chambers of trade and commerce, local government and trade and employers' associations in different parts of Germany, in order to boost local employment. Such cooperation is intended to allow for systematic learning processes and employment-increasing initiatives. The concept includes the following measures:

• new paths in vocational and further training and in job placement, in order to prepare people for employment;

• start-up support measures for the foundation of new enterprises, the establishment of innovation funds and cooperation between companies, in order to create new jobs; and

• new forms of work organisation, working time organisation and compensation in order to secure employment.

The initiative will start in spring 1999 and will run initially for three years.

According to Mr Strube, the initiative also intends to bring together and connect the numerous creative initiatives which already exist in the various regions. All three founders of the initiative are convinced that creative cooperation between regional actors will create new employment and reduce unemployment.