BERLIN, Oct 24 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives sealed a coalition deal with the Free Democrats (FDP) on Saturday after marathon talks.
Below is what they agreed on labour market policy, according to a coalition agreement seen by Reuters.
MINIMUM WAGES
The parties reject the idea of a blanket national minimum wage. Their new coalition will allow minimum wages already agreed for certain sectors to remain for the time being but will conduct a review of these by October 2011 to assess whether they threaten jobs or new hiring.
JOB PROTECTIONS
Existing job protection rules will stay but the parties will make it easier for companies to employ workers on temporary contracts.
LABOUR MARKET ENTRY
The parties say there must be better rules on labour market entry for non-Germans. They also want to clamp down on illegal employment.
JOBLESS BENEFITS
The parties have agreed that claimants of the lowest level of jobless benefits will in future be allowed to save 750 euros per year for old age before their support levels are cut -- three times the previous limit.
(Compiled by Berlin bureau staff) Keywords: GERMANY COALITION/LABOURMARKET (paul.carrel@reuters.com; +49 30 2888 5214; Reuters Messaging: rm://paul.carrel.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Below is what they agreed on labour market policy, according to a coalition agreement seen by Reuters.
MINIMUM WAGES
The parties reject the idea of a blanket national minimum wage. Their new coalition will allow minimum wages already agreed for certain sectors to remain for the time being but will conduct a review of these by October 2011 to assess whether they threaten jobs or new hiring.
JOB PROTECTIONS
Existing job protection rules will stay but the parties will make it easier for companies to employ workers on temporary contracts.
LABOUR MARKET ENTRY
The parties say there must be better rules on labour market entry for non-Germans. They also want to clamp down on illegal employment.
JOBLESS BENEFITS
The parties have agreed that claimants of the lowest level of jobless benefits will in future be allowed to save 750 euros per year for old age before their support levels are cut -- three times the previous limit.
(Compiled by Berlin bureau staff) Keywords: GERMANY COALITION/LABOURMARKET (paul.carrel@reuters.com; +49 30 2888 5214; Reuters Messaging: rm://paul.carrel.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
