Commenting on today's first regional wage agreement in the metal and electrical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia, Employers' President Dr. Rainer Dulger said:

Berlin, 30 March 2021 With today's agreement, the parties to the collective bargaining agreement in the metal and electrical industry have demonstrated that they are capable of acting even in an extremely difficult situation. With the agreement, which points the way ahead for the industry, a collective bargaining package has been put together that does not overburden small and medium-sized enterprises on the long road out of the pandemic crisis.

This shows all the more in these times: Companies in Germany are demonstrating their ability to act in this pandemic. Our responsibility to society as a whole is not only manifested in testing, but also in responsible wage agreements.

The Corona pandemic presents the industries in Germany with challenging decisions. The present collective agreement does justice to the current situation by offering companies planning security and also addresses the issue of securing the future and jobs.

In addition to a Corona allowance of €500 in June 2021, employees will receive a new special payment in 2022 and 2023. In addition, an automatic differentiation has been agreed for the first time. This possibility of differentiation is indispensable in order to take into account the different economic situations of the companies and the uncertainty about the further economic development.

The new possibility of reducing working time for structural reasons, combined with corresponding compensation payments, and the option for the company parties to hold talks in the event of fundamental structural change processes are also an appropriate compromise between the social partners.

The collective bargaining parties in the metal and electrical industry have found a viable solution on their own, which provides stability in times of high uncertainty. This shows: The social partners are once again an important guide out of the crisis. However, this must be flanked by wise political decisions and a well thought-out "post-Corona strategy".