Amid the ongoing crisis facing the metal and electrical industry, Christiane Benner, the chairwoman of IG Metall, is urging companies to boost local production and job creation within Germany and the EU.
According to “Bild” Benner stated that companies selling their products in Europe and Germany must also manufacture them locally, insisting that this represents crucial local value creation. She questioned the long-term viability of purchasing cars in Germany if production continued to leave the country.
Benner expressed deep concern over the increasing job cuts in Germany, noting, “We are witnessing a severe loss of opportunities, particularly in research and development”. She pointed out that these high-tech jobs are instead being scaled up in countries like China. She worries that, by doing so, corporations view innovation merely as a cost center rather than a strategic necessity.
Furthermore, Benner called upon the federal government to establish better structural conditions for the industry. While praising the subsidized purchase of electric cars and supporting the idea of social differentiation in subsidies, she highlighted severe deficiencies in the charging infrastructure, the affordability of charging electricity, high energy costs, and the promotion of battery production. The chairwoman concluded that if a methodical plan with improved overall conditions is implemented, it is entirely possible to successfully develop and maintain the industry’s competitiveness.