In view of the inflation, especially in energy prices, a recession is looming in winter. At least that’s how Federal Minister of Labor Heil sees it – and therefore wants to give companies simplified access to short-time work in the coming winter.
In view of the uncertainty of economic development in Germany, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil wants to extend the rules for simplified access to short-time work again. The SPD politician announced that he wanted to make use of the Bundestag’s power to issue ordinances and extend easier access “over the winter”. Heil obviously wants to arm himself for the possibility of a worsening of the economy.
In the second quarter of 2022, according to new figures from this Thursday, gross domestic product grew slightly by 0.1 percent. However, some institutes and the Bundesbank are expecting a decline in economic output for the winter. According to their assessment, one could “get into a recessionary situation in winter,” said Heil.
Access to short-time work was made easier to secure jobs during the Corona crisis. 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.
According to Heil, the number of employees affected by short-time work has fallen 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. Heil said that parts of the manufacturing industry and trade could get into difficulties.
The day before it had already become known that the Federal Ministry of Labor is planning a general return to the home office offer obligation from October. Employers should again be obliged to offer employees to work from home to protect against corona infections, according to a draft bill for a SARS-CoV-2 occupational safety regulation.