Vogel, Sandra

For the majority of younger workers, vocational training [1] still remains their means of entry to a future career. The German dual system of vocational training combines two principles: firstly, apprentices receive on-the-job training in establishments; secondly, vocational schools provide theoretical knowledge to support this training. However, a recent study (in German, 1Mb PDF) [2], published by the Institute for Employment Research (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, IAB [3]), shows that a rising proportion of vocationally trained younger workers are in occupations that rely on skills different to those in which they have been trained. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/industrial-relations-dictionary/vocational-training [2] http://doku.iab.de/kurzber/2007/kb0107.pdf [3] http://iab.de/iab/default.htm

During the 20th congress of the Christian Democratic Party (Christlich Demokratische Union, CDU [1]) on 27 and 28 November 2006, the party announced a proposal for a system of employee profit and capital sharing (in German, 274Kb PDF) [2]. While the CDU and its current coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, SPD [3]), debate further reform steps, studies emphasise the low coverage rates of employee profit and capital sharing schemes in Germany. [1] http://www.cdu.de/index.htm [2] http://www.dresden2006.cdu.de/download/Beschluss_A_End.pdf [3] http://www.spd.de/menu/-1/

The participation of immigrants in the labour market is deemed to be an important step towards social integration. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for young people from immigrant families to embark upon an apprenticeship. While the Confederation of German Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB [1]) has sought a common strategy among the social partners to reverse this trend, the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, BDA [2]) has called for better integration of immigrants into vocational training programmes, among other requests. [1] http://www.dgb.de/ [2] http://www.bda-online.de/

In 2005, the former chancellor Gerhard Schröder appointed a commission on co-determination [1] (/Mitbestimmungskommission/) to develop a proposal for the revision of co-determination at establishment level. Members of the commission comprised researchers as well as employee and employer representatives. However, on 14 November 2006, its chair, Kurt Biedenkopf, claimed in a statement to the press (in German) [2] that the commission could not fulfil its task of providing a joint proposal due to the remaining differences between the commission members. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/industrial-relations-dictionary/co-determination [2] http://www.faz.net/s/Rub6B15D93102534C72B5CF6E7956148562/Doc~E56A0F3265D5744B7AEA3918D911B817B~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html

According to a labour market study (in German, 968Kb PDF) [1] by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA [2]), the average number of temporary agency workers increased from 134,443 persons in 1994 to 333,604 persons in 2005. While trade unions fear that the growing number of temporary agency workers will lead to a decline in regular employment, the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, BDA [3]) highlights the positive effects of temporary agency work [4]. [1] http://www.pub.arbeitsamt.de/hst/services/statistik/200512/iiia6/aueg/auegd.pdf [2] http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/ [3] http://www.bda-online.de/ [4] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/industrial-relations-dictionary/temporary-agency-work

The representative study on ‘ageing and remaining active’ (Älter werden – aktiv bleiben?!, 480 Kb PDF [1]), conducted on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation [2] (Bertelsmann Stiftung), among middle-aged employees reveals their attitude to work as they approach retirement age. The survey was carried out in May 2006, involving 1,001 employees aged between 35 and 55 years who were interviewed about issues concerning employability and ageing. [1] http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/bst/de/media/xcms_bst_dms_17904__2.pdf [2] http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.org/cps/rde/xchg/bst_en

In July 2006, the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, BDA [1]) published a 10-point proposal calling for extensive reforms of the ‘Fourth law on modern services in the labour market’, which is commonly known as HARTZ IV. [1] http://www.bda-online.de/

In June 2006, new research was published by the Institute for Employment Research (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, IAB [1]) on the likelihood of female employees obtaining a management position in the private sector in Germany. While the proportion of women in management has increased in a few economic sectors, the analysis revealed that women were failing to reach senior management positions in the private sector. [1] http://iab.de/iab/default.htm

On 4 July 2006, the Federal Government announced its framework for health care reform. It is the government’s intention to set out a long-term strategy that seeks to sever the link between wages and social insurance costs. However, the social partners disagree about the effects of the reform. Both trade union and employer associations have called for profound changes to the reforms; however, each side has different reasons for doing so.

Results of a study on opening clauses in collective agreements (in German, 80 Kb PDF) [1] reveal that 13% of the companies surveyed have an opening clause in their agreement. Of these establishments, 52% made use of opening clauses in 2005. The companies preferred the use of opening clauses that allow for working time [2] adjustments. Only a minority of companies used opening clauses for the reduction of wages and this was more widespread among companies in eastern Germany. [1] http://www.arbeitsmarkt.wiso.uni-erlangen.de/pdf/Diskussionspapiere/dp41.pdf [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/industrial-relations-dictionary/working-time