Germany: government programme of upcoming coalition gives prominence to labour matters

The parties of Germany’s upcoming coalition government (centre-right CDU and CSU, and centre-left SPD) are committed to promoting innovation, performance equity and equal opportunities. They consider that economic success and social cohesion are linked and based on a social partnership that needs to be strengthened. Effective equality between men and women in the economy is presented as a central objective. The future government also plans to encourage work by improving incentives, particularly for pensioners and women, and by reducing bureaucracy. According to the German media, former Bundestag president Bärbel Bas (SPD), who spent part of her career in the health insurance funds, is being approached to become labour minister. However, the retention of the incumbent Hubertus Heil (SPD) has not been ruled out.…