Report examines collectively agreed holidays and holiday bonuses in 1997

In 1997, significant differences persist in collectively agreed holiday bonuses between various sectors, as well as between western and eastern Germany, according to recent research by the Institute for Economics and Social Science

According to a recent study of 1997 provisions by the Institute for Economics and Social Science (Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut, WSI), most employees in Germany receive a collectively agreed holiday bonus, though there are significant sectoral differences in the amount of the bonus. While most employees are due 30 days' paid leave per year, the average annual holiday bonus for a blue collar worker in a middle-range income group ranges between DEM 200 and DEM 2,587.

In western Germany, the highest holiday bonuses have been agreed in the printing industry (DEM 2,587), wood processing (DEM 2,527) and the automobile trade (DEM 2,230). Branches with a rather low holiday bonus are mining (DEM 300), agriculture (DEM 360) and public services (DEM 650). In the iron and steel industry and in banking there is no collectively agreed holiday bonus.

In comparison, holiday bonuses in many east German sectors are still lower than in the west. Only the employees in chemicals, metalworking, paper processing, printing and railway services so far receive the same holiday bonus as their western colleagues. In some sectors, like the automobile trade or textiles, the east German employees get less than half of the west German holiday bonus or even receive no holiday payments at all (as in the shoe industry or clothing). In other east German sectors even the number of collectively agreed holidays per year is still below the level of the west.

* Blue-collar workers only

** Regional differences are possible

Source: WSI Collective Agreement Archive 1997