Employers' President Dr. Rainer Dulger comments on the start of coalition negotiations:
Reforms are needed in the economic crisis
Berlin, March 13, 2025: "The coalition negotiations are starting in a difficult environment: The third year of the recession is underway. The economy is on a slippery slope - reforms are needed. There are many challenges in the deep economic crisis: The new federal government must initiate a fundamental change in economic, social and labor market policy.
We need reforms in the welfare state that put activation for the labor market before alimentation. Labor market policy must be better dovetailed with social policy. Specifically, a genuine reform of the citizen's income is required, not just a new name.
We need more net from gross so that employees enjoy their work because more money arrives in their bank accounts. More net from gross helps companies by creating competitive labor costs.
There must be no fear of change in pension policy that creates fairness between the generations and sustainable finances. Only more competition and personal responsibility can end the cost explosion in healthcare policy and stabilize contributions.
Employees need working time regulations that create flexibility and allow them to act on their own responsibility instead of patronizing them.
Those who shy away from these challenges are jeopardizing the cohesion of our society. Politicians must offer sustainable solutions, otherwise the populists of the left and right will gain votes."