Vogel, Sandra
Chambers of Commerce association calls for reform of vocational training system
07 March 2007
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
Debate on employee participation schemes highlights risks to employees
21 January 2007
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/
Union calls for more training opportunities for immigrants
10 January 2007
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/
Social partners divided over issue of co-determination at company level
03 January 2007
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
Steady rise in temporary agency work
26 November 2006
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
Views on retirement of middle-aged employees
15 October 2006
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
Employers call for reform of law on unemployment assistance
11 October 2006
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/
Women slow to reach senior management positions
01 October 2006
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
Proposed health insurance reform sparks debate
13 August 2006
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.
Use of opening clauses in collective agreements
17 July 2006
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