Vogel, Sandra

The current economic and labour market situation in Germany, fixed-term employment, collective bargaining to adapt working conditions in eastern Germany and the European Court of Justice judgement on recording working time are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the second quarter of 2019.

The current economic and labour market situation in Germany, collective bargaining agreements in the steel, airport security and public sectors, and the introduction of a minimum wage for apprentices are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the first quarter of 2019.

​​​​​​​The current labour market situation in Germany, the recent collective bargaining agreement in the German railways sector and the 100th anniversary of the Stinnes-Legien agreement are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the fourth quarter of 2018.

A draft law on the right for part-time employees to return to full-time work and the success of the third round of collective bargaining in the public and construction sectors are the main topics of this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the first quarter of 2018.

Continued economic stability, collective bargaining agreements in construction, banking and the car industry and possible strike action by IG Metall are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Economic stability, the conclusion of several sectoral agreements, the Federal Constitutional Court ruling on the Collective Bargaining Unity Act, and results of the federal elections are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the third quarter of 2017.

Following a court challenge by several unions, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the Collective Bargaining Unity Act is ‘by and large’ constitutional, though it did not include sufficient safeguards to protect the rights of certain occupational groups or sectors. The court called for the legislator to improve the rules by the end of 2018.

A proposal to bring in a law allowing part-time workers in Germany to claim a full-time job has failed. The ruling coalition of the Social and Christian Democrats could not agree on the extent of the initiative. The proposal was put forward by Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Andrea Nahles.

Economic stability, campaigning ahead of September’s elections, new policies on pay and working hours, a decline in union membership, changes to the collective bargaining landscape and a reduction in strike action are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the second quarter of 2017.

Working time is set to be a high priority during the next collective bargaining round, according to the German Metalworkers’ Union (IG Metall), whose recent survey looked at working time satisfaction. Another survey, by the Federation of German Employers’ Associations in the Metal and Electrical Engineering Industries (Gesamtmetall), examined working time and flexibility issues.