The works council at the Federal Ministry of Economics has voiced sharp criticism regarding the hiring practices of Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU). According to a report by the “Handelsblatt”, the criticism stems from a circulated internal email.
A primary concern expressed by the staff representatives is the increasing reliance on external hires by the ministry’s management. The council stated that it deeply regretted the management’s emphasis on external personnel rather than utilizing the existing competence and experience of the current employees. Furthermore, the works council recommended that the leadership address internal aspects, such as working conditions, leadership behavior, and the internal culture of making mistakes.
In addition to personnel matters, the works council objects to the tender process for a “Strategic Top Management Consulting” service for the Ministry. This contract, covering an estimated 9,000 work hours annually, would support the Ministry’s performance externally. Of particular concern is that a portion of the required consulting involves operational and substantive aspects of economic planning and implementation. The works council, along with many employees, views this requirement critically, arguing that these tasks constitute standard ministerial work for which the department is already highly qualified. Consequently, the works council has called for management to dispense with this specific component of the service package.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Ministry had previously clarified that the services outlined in the tender are not the kind of work that could be provided by the Ministry’s own staff.