Berlin's Business Community Calls for Abandonment of Training Fee

The business sector in Berlin is urging the local government to abandon a proposed training fee that would affect all employers. The call for action comes from Sebastian Stietzel, the president of the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who criticized the initiative as a punitive measure that resembles a special tax. Stietzel argued that this training fee would lead to excessive bureaucracy, threaten Berlin's economic standing, and ultimately fail to assist young people seeking vocational training.

Stietzel expressed skepticism regarding the intentions of those involved in the educational alliance aimed at increasing training opportunities for youth. He questioned whether the goal is genuinely to create more apprenticeships or if it is driven by an ideological push to impose a counterproductive fee.

At the center of this controversy is Cansel Kiziltepe, the city's Senator for Labor and Social Affairs. Kiziltepe has accused businesses of not providing enough training positions and hopes that the introduction of this fee will stimulate greater engagement. A month ago, she announced plans for legislation that would implement the training fee if the target of creating 2,000 additional training places by the end of 2025 is not met. A draft proposal for this legislation has been prepared, and a broad consultation process is set to begin.

The proposed scheme, which has already been implemented in Bremen, would require all employers to contribute a certain amount based on their payroll costs to an 'education fund'. This fund would then subsidize the costs for employers who offer and fill training positions, with the expectation that the reimbursements would exceed the fees paid into the fund. However, many details of Kiziltepe's plan remain unclear.

Stietzel contended that the assertion of insufficient training opportunities in Berlin's business sector is misleading. He emphasized that the real challenge lies in the 'matching' of apprentices with companies, suggesting that efforts should focus on improving this aspect rather than imposing new financial burdens on businesses.

The educational alliance, formed in August 2023, is set to convene again on May 26. It includes politicians, industry associations, and trade unions, with the ambitious goal of reaching 34,835 training positions by December 31, 2025, building upon the 32,835 positions available by the end of 2023.

Previously, the CDU and SPD had agreed in their coalition contract in 2023 to add 2,000 permanent training positions. The introduction of a training fee would be considered if this target is not achieved.

While Kiziltepe supports this agreement, the Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner from the CDU, has distanced himself from the proposal, publicly reprimanding Kiziltepe in April and stating that now is not the appropriate time to consider a training fee, especially during economically challenging times. He urged all stakeholders to focus on creating additional training opportunities instead.