Frankfurt am Main – With a view to economic change and upheaval, IG Metall is demanding a “new social security promise” from companies and politicians. At the IG Metall trade union conference in Frankfurt, the delegates decided on an extensive catalog of measures. Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil told the more than 400 IG Metall delegates: “Especially in times of rapid change, we must preserve the value and dignity of work.
Perspectives for everyone in transformation
IG Metall calls for people to be offered security and prospects, especially in times of crisis and transformation. “All people must be given the same opportunities for development,” says the key proposal passed on Wednesday. This also includes a right of initiative for works councils in order to actively and early on shape personnel development in companies. Employers must finally assume their responsibility for further training of their employees with reliable qualification planning for all employees. All employees need the right to further training for professional reorientation, which could be guaranteed by a two-year training period.
Opportunities for everyone with a real training guarantee
Only just under one in five companies now provide training. IG Metall wants to counteract this with a real, pay-as-you-go training guarantee and put employment after training on the collective bargaining agenda in all sectors. The 2.6 million young people without a vocational qualification need systematic transition management.
In addition to the demand to prevent, limit and regulate temporary work, the delegates spoke out in favor of a right of co-determination against the abuse of work contracts in outsourcing and outsourcing. In addition, the platform economy should not create a deregulated labor market that undermines collective bargaining and social standards.
Welfare state is called for as a designer of transformation
Especially in view of the recent times of crisis and upheaval, IG Metall is calling for the strengthening of a functioning welfare state “as a crisis manager and lifeline that can prevent social division and loss of prosperity.” To this end, the IG Metall trade union conference decided on a “welfare state offensive”: among other things, for an extension of unemployment benefit 1, for a citizen’s benefit as a basic security based on solidarity and for the reconstruction of old age security. This must be converted into solidarity-based employment insurance with flexible transitions to retirement and a real pension at 63 after 45 years of insurance. The burden must be distributed fairly.
Labor Minister Heil for more collective bargaining
Hubertus Heil, Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, said to the delegates: “Company co-determination offers opportunities and protection as the economy changes. That’s why we need strong unions and more collective bargaining. It’s about making work worthwhile. To do this, we increased the minimum wage to 12 euros and reduced social contributions and taxes for low earners. We have significantly expanded child and housing benefits for employed people. Work makes a difference.”