The leadership of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) is currently criticizing the reform plans put forward by the governing coalition of the Union and SPD. According to reports citing an initiative passed for the DGB Federal Congress beginning in Berlin, the DGB argues that the federal government is focused on division and conflict rather than solving national problems or offering a viable perspective for the country and its citizens. Instead, the union believes that the government frequently gets bogged down in minor disputes, missing crucial chances to prepare decisions that enjoy broad consensus and unified support from social partners.
The DGB cautions that the publicly available measures and announced reforms have “massive imbalances”. However, the criticism goes beyond mere political discord. The core concern is that while significant decisions are necessary, the burden is being borne solely by employees, while many sectors of the economy are reportedly shirking their responsibilities.
Specific areas of deep concern revolve around social security. Regarding the statutory health insurance system, the DGB points to a “significant social imbalance” caused by placing excessive costs unilaterally on the insured population. Examples cited include increased co-payments, reductions in benefits, and limitations on family coverage. Furthermore, the introduction of partial sick leave is expected to considerably heighten the pressure on employees to come to work even when ill.
Warnings are also issued concerning the state pension. The DGB emphasizes that the federal government’s pension commission must not morph into a “cut commission”. Instead, the focus, the DGB argues, must be on stabilizing and strengthening the statutory pension through a stable and sustainably high pension level, while also rejecting any further increase of the general retirement age or creating additional financial pressure by shifting responsibility to private savings.
In addition to these major points, the DGB leadership specifically voiced alarm over proposed changes such as the potential end of the eight-hour workday, the cutting of public holidays, and the erosion of rights related to job security and the right to part-time employment.