The economic slowdown in Germany is becoming important enough that the sector's social partners are asking the government to quickly reintroduce short-time working measures. Between August and September 2012, the number of businesses requesting this system went from 24,000 up to 47,000. In the metal and auto industries, 29,500 people were on short-time working in September - twice as much as in August. However, the situation isn't as bad as in 2009. Since short-time working is now considered as a full-fledged "flexicurity" element, businesses use it more in a preventive approach. (Ref. 120599)
“It would be good to lower statutory barriers again, and to free short-time working from social contributions. We shouldn’t waste time; we have to be ready in case the situation really gets worse” explained the new leader of the metal employers’ organization (Gesamtmetall), Rainer Dulger, commenting on the last figures for short-time working in his sector. In September, the number of short-time working requests in the sector’s businesses, particularly in the auto industry, doubled compared wi
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