At a time when digitalization of the economy is causing workers to fear for their jobs, and during a press conference held on 14 June at which Social-Democrat Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Andrea Nahles was present, Christian P. Illek, HR head at the German telecoms operator Deutsche Telekom presented the broad thrusts of an opportunity for continuous training on a part-time basis available throughout the country ant that aims to conserve jobs for workers whose current positions are really under threat. Such employees would reduce their working time by 50% over a period of time ranging from between one to four years in order to follow a training course. During this period workers would receive 80% of their gross pay under special provisions co-financed by the State, the company, and the employee. A key advantage for workers is that at the end of a successful training course the employee will be guaranteed employment for several years. Andrea Nahles took the opportunity to welcome the ‘preventative approach’ taken by the telecoms company as well as to announce that the project would pass into draft legislation during the post election legislature...
“Training today to avoid unemployment tomorrow”. “It is not a question of just being a Deutsche Telekom model,” HR head and board member Christian P. Illek stressed at the outset, « but instead it is an opportunity that is relevant for all German companies,” which just like Deutsche Telekom have to meet the challenges of the digital economy. According to the HR head, the number of jobs likely to be lost during the digital transformation varies greatly depending on which study one reads but on thing is certainly clear and that is that the structure of employment and jobs will never be the same.
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