To Federal Minister of Labor Heils repeated interference into the tariff autonomy with the care explains managing director Steffen Kampeter:

Coercion and duress do not belong in collective bargaining autonomy

Berlin, 18 February 2021 The Federal Minister of Labour's constantly repeated offer to the players in the care sector that he wants to help them to secure collective agreements by law is not appropriate. Collective bargaining autonomy applies in Germany. Wage levels and working conditions are determined by effective and representative social partners. This is rightly protected by the constitution.

Even the establishment of an employers' association under the de facto patronage and at the request of a member of the government was not a course of action appropriate to the autonomy and self-image of the social partners. If pressure continues to be exerted for a certain result and legal protection is waved, then this comes very close to coercion and duress in collective bargaining policy.

We urge the federal government and in particular the Federal Minister of Labour: Stop trying to impose a political will on the autonomy of collective bargaining for election campaign reasons. Stop the tactic of putting the social partners under pressure with legally questionable announcements. Federal Labour Minister Heil should respect freedom of association in both its positive and negative forms and not continue to play substitute social partner.