The liberalization of the postal market, planned for January 1, is postponed. Mentioning the introduction of a minimum wage in the German post (see our article No. 070983), the State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Frank Heemskerk, declared on December 6 in Parliament, "there are still too many unclear aspects". No other date was given, but the Secretary is hoping "to see more clearly into the situation" during the first trimester 2008. He is also hoping that, by then, wage negotiations between the sector's social partners will lead to a result. (Ref. 071003)
Mr. Heemskerk takes upon himself the concern of TNT Post, Dutch postal group of which 19% are State-owned, which thinks that the agreement on minimum wage for postmen in Germany is holding up competition. Indeed, the Deutsche Post is going to keep a profitable system as part of the liberalization of the German market on January 1. Consequently, it is no longer question of a healthy competition between the two countries, according to TNT Post which denounces a disadvantage compared to the Deutsc
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