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The German government's pension package is a step backwards, not a step forward. Instead of urgently needed structural reforms, it cements the imbalance in the system every year.

The coalition committee of the CDU, CSU and SPD has agreed to extend the period of entitlement to short-time working allowance.

Germany as a high-tech location finally needs reforms. Only then can recruitment and employment incentives follow, as well as more interest in the important STEM degree programs.

With the Digital Omnibus, the EU wants to tackle three laws at the same time and thus create initial relief for the industry. However, this is not enough to ensure Europe's competitiveness as a digital location.

Only 37 percent of mechanical engineering companies are bound by collective agreements. Our latest survey shows: The majority rely on operational flexibility instead of formal collective agreements.

Improvements to the pension package are urgently needed. The Junge Union and Junge Gruppe of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group have a clearer view than the federal government.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has only partially upheld an action brought by Denmark to annul the Minimum Wage Directive and declared only subparagraphs null and void.

The economic reforms announced by the German government are still a long time coming, while jobs are being cut. Companies need tangible relief now and not at some point in the future - including in the social and labor market areas.

The Fifth Ordinance on the Adjustment of the Level of the Minimum Wage (Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance - MiLoV5) was published in the Federal Law Gazette on November 7, 2025.

On November 5, 2025, the Federal Government's Cabinet for Reducing Bureaucracy adopted key points for reducing bureaucracy, which also affect occupational health and safety.

The mechanical and plant engineering industry is facing new challenges: Legislative changes, political decisions and recent court rulings are changing the employment law framework and presenting companies with new challenges.

The planned Collective Bargaining Loyalty Act will harm industrial SMEs because it will bring even more bureaucracy, even though companies pay fair wages. In addition, it only applies in Germany, which may give foreign companies an advantage.

The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) has published the results of a company survey on the development of the burden of bureaucracy on German companies.

The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) has presented a plan to reduce bureaucracy in occupational health and safety.

On October 10, 2025, the Bundestag debated the first reading of the government draft of a law to strengthen the autonomy of collective bargaining by ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements when awarding federal public contracts (Collective Bargaining Compliance Act).

In an already tense economic situation, the Collective Bargaining Act is a step in the wrong direction. The effect is to burden medium-sized companies in Germany but not foreign competitors.

On 27.08.2025, the Federal Cabinet adopted the draft law on the modernization of military service - Military Service Modernization Act (WDModG).

More than 3 million unemployed - these figures must be a wake-up call for politicians. Germany needs a turnaround in its labor market policy. Without a reduction in social spending and reforms, the situation will continue to worsen.

The mechanical engineering industry has to cope with serious additional burdens: US tariffs are making business considerably more difficult, while rising social security contributions and high taxes are weakening companies. The government needs to act quickly.

The number of employees in the mechanical engineering sector in Germany fell slightly in the first half of the year, but companies are holding on to their core workforces even in turbulent times.

Companies in the machinery and equipment manufacturing sector pay well, but still are to be branded by means of the Collective Bargaining Compliance Law. The government is steering the wrong course here - it's the same for social spending.

Employment is also declining in industry and as long as the federal government refuses to make real reforms to the labor market, the problem will continue to worsen. This is also reflected in the draft budget.

In the third consultation meeting on the minimum wage adjustment on June 27, 2025, the Minimum Wage Commission unanimously passed a resolution to increase the minimum wage on the basis of a mediation proposal by the chairwoman.

The pension package with additional expenditure envisaged by Labor Minister Bas does not solve any of the problems, but rather increases them. Companies and employees need serious structural reforms.

Non-wage labor costs must be significantly reduced, only then can more employment be expected. this requires a real structural reform in the social security branches.

The EU and the United Kingdom have decided to enter into a dialog on the entry and stay of persons for business purposes. The VDMA hopes that this will facilitate work assignments in the United Kingdom.

Companies in Germany urgently need relief, also in terms of labor market regulations. Switching to a maximum weekly working time would be an important step towards more flexibility.

Germany brings up the rear of the industrialized nations in terms of forecast economic growth. Reforms are also needed in the labor market, which can be perceived as painful.

No economic growth, an ageing society and rising expenditure and contributions: The challenges in labor market and social policy could hardly be greater.

The future of pension funding is the biggest gap in the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD. Unpopular measures are also needed to make pensions fit for the future.

The labor market is sending a clear signal: structural reforms are needed now instead of further social benefits, even if they may be unpopular.

To ensure the competitiveness of the mechanical and plant engineering industry, the VDMA is calling for reliable economic framework conditions. A strong industry means a strong economy.

The parties to the collective agreement in the M E industry in Baden-Württemberg have concluded a collective agreement that enables companies to lend employees to each other in order to avoid short-time working or redundancies.

IG Metall wants to secure industrial jobs by giving preference to companies bound by collective agreements. This is the wrong approach.

The mechanical engineering sector is feeling the effects of the recession - yet companies only reduced their workforce by just under 1% in 2024. Even now, the core workforce is to be retained as much as possible.

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSJ) has commissioned a special study on the issue of father-friendliness in mechanical and plant engineering as part of the "Success Factor Family" corporate program.

Employment in the mechanical and plant engineering sector is also expected to fall slightly this year. This makes it all the more important to reduce labor costs now.

Less bureaucracy, a maximum tax rate of 25% and an efficient infrastructure are essential to ensure competitiveness. Germany will only remain a strong industrial location through bold reforms.

The VDMA calls for a labor market policy that secures skilled workers, recognizes performance, offers flexibility, and thereby stabilizes our social systems.

On January 1, 2025 and over the course of the next year, a number of changes will be made to the labor market.

On December 18, 2024, the Federal Cabinet decided to extend the period of entitlement to short-time working allowance.

Structural changes are needed, not the expansion of expensive special formats. The extension of the short-time working allowance is a political mistake.

Competitiveness, growth and a long-term supply of labor and skilled workers require adaptability, a flexible labor market and a future-proof social security system.

The German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) published a draft law on the recording of working hours on April 18, 2023. This has not yet been approved by the coalition.

The number of vacancies for engineers in the mechanical engineering sector has reached a new high and demand will continue to grow. Currently, two out of three companies have engineering vacancies to fill.

In the daily political debate, good arguments are the be-all and end-all. In the VDMA's brief positions you will find short statements on current controversial issues.