29 September, 2010A new unlimited agreement providing for job security and greater consultation rights of workers was reached at Siemens now covering all 128,000 employees in Germany.
GERMANY: A new employment pact was concluded on September 22 by the Works Council, IMF affiliate IG Metall and the Siemens Managing Board. It is unlimited and includes an agreement that layoffs in Germany and relocation cannot be enforced without consultation with the workers. The agreement provides employees substantial guarantees in terms of job security and joint management.
IG Metall president and IMF president, Berthold Huber, states that the agreement creates an important basis for future developments at Siemens. "The new agreements provide the employees of Siemens security and job protection for future changes and Siemens continues to show social responsibility towards its employees."
In addition, the agreement strengthens information and consultation rights of workers' representatives, representing a remarkable development of the participation rights of workers, said Huber.
The newly reached unlimited agreement builds on an earlier agreement signed in 2008, which will expire on September 30, 2010, and includes issues such as the relocation or closure of sites at least until 2013. In addition, it provides extensive information and consultation rights to the employees in investment decisions, any proposed restructuring and location decisions.
The scope of the agreement has also been improved, with the scope no longer restricted to Siemens AG, but now extended to the whole group, covering a total of 128,000 workers.