Germany: the number of apprenticeship contracts reaches another record level in the chemical industry

On December 11, the IG BCE union and the sector’s employers’ organization, BAVC, gave a unanimously positive report of their collective agreement on apprenticeship, signed in 2003 and renewed several times.  According to the social partners, with more than 9,500 new apprenticeship contracts signed in 2013, chemical firms have once again exceeded the objectives listed in the collective agreement, “A future through apprenticeship.”  The agreement, which will expire at the end of the year, is currently the subject of collective negotiations in the sector.  Key bone of contention: the recruitment guarantee for apprentices demanded by the IG BCE.  The union also rejoiced, in its evaluation, of the good results of the “Start” program, set up in 2000 to improve the chances of professional integration of failing young people.  (Ref.  130795)
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Objectives exceeded. For the IG BCE, the collective agreement on apprenticeship adopted in 2003 is a complete success. The number of apprenticeship contracts is still at record level. In 2013, 9,576 new contracts were signed in the chemical industry. The employers’ organization says this is the 2nd best result since the agreement was signed, after the 9,583 new contracts signed in 2012. Thus, in 2013, businesses exceeded by 6.5 percent the objectives laid down in the agreement, which plans

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