Jörg Dittrich, the new President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH) in Berlin in January
Image: dpa
Federal Minister of Labor Heil recently announced a further training law, according to which employees can continue their training for a year with pay. The new craft president thinks little of it.
Dhe Central Association of German Crafts has sharply criticized the paid training period for employees planned by Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD). “In times of a shortage of skilled workers, I do not think it would be expedient to decree that many more people temporarily say goodbye to the work process,” said Jörg Dittrich, president of the trades, to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
In mid-January, Heil announced a further training law that would allow employees to continue their training for a year with pay. The prerequisite should be an agreement between employer and employee. According to information from the German Press Agency, the plans are currently still pending in the departmental coordination.
In Dittrich’s opinion, it is not enough that the employer’s consent should be required for further training. “But then the boss needs pretty good reasons to say no. Then there’s trouble again. The decision about further training should remain in the hands of the companies.”
Further training is necessary, and it is clear to all innovative companies that they have to offer it. “But wanting to regulate everything again as a state by law for everyone, I think is the wrong way,” said Dittrich.