the reform of the Common European Asylum System (GEAS) and the Tarifloyalty Act.. Reports from coalition insiders say both bills are scheduled to be passed in the Bundestag during this week. For months the parties had been at an impasse, but the SPD decided to link its endorsement of the GEAS reform to the approval of the Tarifloyalty law.
As part of the compromise, the Tarifloyalty Act will exempt one‑time delivery services, a change intended to cut bureaucracy. With the GEAS reform, refugees will be allowed to enter the workforce sooner, a step that Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) announced over the weekend.
Other initiatives are also moving forward. The Bürgergeld (citizen’s benefit) reform, which underpins the new basic security scheme, is expected to be adopted next week according to union circles. Meanwhile, the heating law is set to present its key points in the coming days. Several rounds of negotiations are slated to take place before the end of the week.