unemployment
Habeck wants to promote the fight against labor shortages
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck sees the lack of skilled workers in Germany as a threat to the national economy. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
It’s not just companies that are complaining about it, the shortage of workers has also reached everyday life in many industries in Germany. The Minister of Economic Affairs has some ideas about this.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to fight against the Labor shortages intensify in Germany. This also means that the federal government should examine the possibility of a legal right to flexible working for employees, as can be seen from the draft of the new annual economic report. The “Handelsblatt” first reported on it.
The draft states that in order to increase the number of jobs, particularly for single women with children, the federal government is examining the possibility of a legal right to flexible working for employees. This could also refer to the place of work and working hours, i.e. the distribution of working hours throughout the day. The ministry said that the test relates in particular to working hours. Home office is one aspect, but it is not the focus. Employer interests should be adequately taken into account in this examination.
Employer: “There is no need for a law”
The general manager of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations, Steffen Kampeter, said: “Mobile work has been part of everyday working life for many employees for years. As a rule, this issue is regulated in good agreement between employee and employer. There is no need for a law.” A legal right to mobile work would simply ignore the reality in companies.
“We will only be able to combat the shortage of workers and skilled workers if we turn several screws,” said Habeck. “We have modernized the framework for the immigration of skilled workers, the implementation is ongoing and it is important that this has an impact.” However, domestic potential also needs to be better utilized. “Above all, more flexibility and better incentives are needed, for example for older people and second earners.” In addition, progress must be made faster and more effectively in integrating refugees into the labor market.
The minister assumes there are almost two million vacancies
During a question and answer session in the Bundestag, Habeck said that the shortage of skilled workers was a threat to the German economy. “This is a structural problem that will severely challenge and impact the German economy in the next few years.” The government is now trying to address past failures.
Habeck assumes there will be significantly more vacancies on the German labor market than previously known. Estimates put the number at just under two million. Many companies would not report vacancies at all, but would “tacitly accept them”. It can therefore be assumed that there are more than the officially recorded 700,000 vacancies.