The news. On 22 July, the German federal government unveiled a national action plan to promote collective bargaining in response to the requirements of the EU minimum wage directive. The directive requires member States where collective bargaining coverage falls below 80% to adopt measures to improve that coverage. In Germany, the coverage rate declined to 49% in 2024, well below the threshold set by the European Union.
The stakes. The plan pursues a dual objective: improving working conditions
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As a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.