Germany: Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Franz-Josef Jung replaced by Ursula von der Leyen, one of the “stars” of the Merkel government

Jung leaves, von der Leyen comes. Franz-Josef Jung’s resignation didn’t take long. Since the Bild daily revealed, on Wednesday, that the current Employment Minister hid, when he was the Defense Minister, crucial information on the civil casualties of a bombing ordered by the German army in Afghanistan, the pressure on the Minister’s shoulders kept growing. Mrs. Merkel’s government already had enough on its plate with the fight against the crisis, so Berlin decided to cut short any controversy and avoid the risks of a painful fact-finding committee. Therefore, Mr. Jung had to cave. He leaves the Employment Ministry where he only had time to announce the extension of short-time working measures. In the evening, the Ministry’s spokesman announced that Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, until now Minister for Family Affairs, was coming to replace him. This mother of seven children was uncovered by the public opinion during Mrs. Merkel’s first mandate. By imposing parental pay and actively fighting for better work life balance, she managed to modernize the image of the conservative party on these issues. She’s one of German people’s favorite Ministers. “I will fully dive into this new challenge. I am well aware of the responsibility of a Minister for Employment and Social Affairs in times of an economic crisis” declared Mrs. Von der Leyen, who has already been regional Minister for Social Affairs in low-Saxony.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

tter work life balance, she managed to modernize the image of the conservative party on these issues. She’s one of German people’s favorite Ministers. “I will fully dive into this new challenge. I am well aware of the responsibility of a Minister for Employment and Social Affairs in times of an economic crisis” declared Mrs. Von der Leyen, who has already been regional Minister for Social Affairs in low-Saxony.

Professionals aren’t worried. In the business world, this resignation caused quite a

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...