The spread of the coronavirus is a major challenge for the economy and the labour market. To address this effectively, the German government has adopted a bill that will facilitate access to short-time work allowance.
Federal Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier (at left) and Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil: The new act of parliament should come into effect in the first half of April
Photo: picture alliance/dpa
"Our goal is to ensure that, in this situation, as far as possible no job and no company sustains lasting damage," declared Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil on Tuesday at a press conference with Federal Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier. That is why the government is taking swift, unbureaucratic action. It is to be made easier to obtain short-time work allowance, thus going some way to create security, said Hubertus Heil.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier explained, "We are translating into practice the resolution of the coalition committee and the entire government." The goal is to save jobs and companies and retain competitiveness.
In detail the new legislation provides for the following:
Because the new legislation is to be introduced to the two chambers of the German parliament, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, using the fast-track procedure, Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil expects that it will come into force in the first half of April. From then the regulations will initially apply until the end of 2020.
The bill also provides for new regulations in another area – professional upgrading. Increasing digitalisation of the working world and measures to combat climate change are going hand in hand with radical structural changes. Workers and employers are to be made fit for tomorrow’s working world. The Act to promote Advanced Professional Training in the face of Structural Change and to Develop Training Support (Gesetz zur Förderung der beruflichen Weiterbildung im Strukturwandel und zur Weiterentwicklung der Ausbildungsförderung) is to take the promotion tools used by labour market policy to the next level.
On the basis of the regulations laid out in the Professional Upgrading Opportunities Act (Qualifizierungschancengesetz) the promotion of advanced training for employees is to be further enhanced:
In future individuals registering in good time as job-seekers or as unemployed will be able to do so online.