Regional alliance for jobs, training and competitiveness in Northrhine Westphalia

In December 1998, the main regional associations of trade unions, industry and employers, together with the government of the German federal state of Northrhine-Westpahlia, forged a regional alliance for jobs, training and competitiveness.

On 18 December 1998, a tripartite regional "alliance for jobs, training and competitiveness" was signed for the federal state of Northrhine-Westphalia. Besides all members of the Social Democrat-Green regional government, the following organisations were represented in the initiative:

• the regional branches of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB), the German White-Collar Workers' Union (Deutsche Angestelltengewerkschaft, DAG) the IG Metall metalworkers' union, the IG Medien media and printing workers' union, the ÖTV (Gewerkschaft Öffentliche Dienste, Transport und Verkehr) public services and transport workers' union, and the IG BCE (IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie) chemical, mining and energy workers' union; and

• the regional employers' confederation, Landesvereinigung der Arbeitgeberverbände, the regional metalworking employers' association, Verband der Metall- und Elektroindustrie NRW, the regional association of chambers of industry and commerce, Vereinigung der Industrie- und Handelskammern in Nordrhein-Westfalen, and the regional crafts association, Nordrhein-Westfälischer Handwerkstag.

It was agreed that the following topics should be discussed and dealt with at regional level:

• measures to fight youth unemployment, including qualification, education and training;

• structural change in trade, banking and insurance; and

• working time, especially as regards part-time schemes.

The alliance will be accompanied by a permanent working group consisting of representatives of government, trade unions and employers.