Germany: given the decline in the number of apprentices, the Federal government, the Länders, and the Social partners have sealed a “new alliance for apprenticeships and vocational training”

On December 12 and for a third time in a row, the Federal Government, the Länders, and the Association of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry have renewed their “pact for apprenticeships” which going forward is entitled: “a new alliance for apprenticeships and vocational training”. For the first time the DGB (Confederation of German unions) has also put its name to the contract that runs until 2018. As well as creating 20,000 additional apprenticeships positions and 500,000 student career guidance places, the new pact also looks to implement a new instrument called ‘assisted training’. On the same day the Federal Institute of Professional Training the BIBB presented its 2014 report on the apprenticeship market. The report revealed yet another drop in apprenticeship contracts.