Fears of recession are spreading – and Corona threatens to come back stronger. That is why the Minister of Labor is planning renewed rules – to protect against unemployment and to protect against infections.
In view of the uncertain economic development, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to extend easier access to short-time work. During a summer trip to Schönebeck in Saxony-Anhalt, Heil announced that he wanted to launch a corresponding draft in the coming days.
In addition, plans are now being coordinated within the government to reintroduce a basic obligation for companies to offer home offices, Heil announced.
The number of employees affected by short-time work has dropped from around 6 million at the peak of the corona pandemic to around 500,000 most recently. But in view of the risks, such as inflation, high energy prices and stagnant supply chains, he wants to give companies and employees a little security, says Heil.
Access to short-time work had already been made easier to secure jobs during the Corona crisis with its lockdown measures. For example, short-time work benefits can already be paid if at least ten percent of the employees in the company are affected by the loss of work. The threshold had previously been one third. In addition, employees do not have to build up any negative hours before receiving short-time work benefits. Without an extension, these regulations would expire at the end of September.
Winter recession warning
Heil said that parts of the manufacturing industry and trade could get into difficulties. “We still have growth,” said Heil. In winter, however, there could be a “recessionary situation,” said the minister, citing economists.
Meanwhile, Germany’s employers have criticized Heil’s other plans for the fall and winter. It had already become known the day before that the Federal Ministry of Labor was planning to return to the obligation to offer home offices from October. Employer President Reiner Dulger criticized that, regardless of the specific infection situation, the same infection protection measures should apply in the companies as at the peak of the pandemic. “This is inappropriate and incomprehensible,” said Dulger. “It’s time to leave the panic corner and get back to normal with Corona.”
Heil plans return to home office offer obligation
According to a draft bill from the labor department, employers should again be obliged to offer employees to work from home to protect themselves from corona infections, provided that it is operationally possible. The draft was available to the dpa. Heil said during his summer trip: “But it is also important to me that we protect the employees who cannot work from home at work,” said Heil. “There will also be hygiene rules for this.”
In Schönebeck, Heil visited a family business that builds emergency vehicles for emergency doctors and rescue services. The Minister of Labor also took a seat in an ambulance with blue lights. Heil had previously met with start-up entrepreneurs in the stadium of 1. FC Magdeburg. The politician had also practiced taking penalties.
Government on the last extension of short-time work rules
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
