Dual Training in Germany and the Role of Unions Kathrin Biegner October 18, 2017
Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund: German Trade Union Confederation Political umbrella organization for 8 German trade unions of all sectors Over 6 million members in Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia 1.5 million The largest confederation of trade unions in Germany and one of the biggest national confederations of trade unions worldwide DGB represents the societal, economic, social, and cultural interests of workers to politicians and other organizations at all levels: from local governments to national, European, and international bodies DGB itself is not involved in collective bargaining Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 2
Youth organizations: DGB-Jugend NRW All 8 unions and the DGB have youth organizations on the federal and regional levels They lobby for the particular interests of young people (e.g., a guarantee for a position of dual training for everybody or low prices for public transport) Each year the DGB-Jugend publishes a report on the situation of trainees Unions support trainees when they have problems at their workplace There are also youth and trainee representatives in companies who are usually union members and are supported by their union (e.g. with workshops on legal rights of trainees etc.) Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 3
Dual Training: 2-3.5 years of training in the company and at school Training is mainly provided in the company: 3-4 days/week Trainees contribute to the company s productivity and get an allowance (500-1000 EUR/month) Training based on in-house requirements Supported by part-time vocational school (Berufsschule, in NRW: Berufskolleg) 1-2 days/week Vocational subjects (2/3) + general subjects (1/3) Theoretical content is related to work in the respective occupation if possible Company School Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 4
Aim: Vocational competence = methodical, specialized, and social skills Vocational training shall, through a systematic training program, impart the vocational skills, knowledge, and qualifications (vocational competence) necessary to engage in a form of skilled occupational activity in a changing working world. It shall also enable trainees to acquire the necessary occupational experience. Vocational Training Act Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 5
Advantages of the dual training for graduates and companies Instead of single tasks, the dual training teaches whole processes of occupation Dual training graduation certificates are widely accepted Due to the participation of employers and unions, dual training programs are constantly updated according to the needs of the labor market In-house training familiarizes trainees with company processes and can increase the loyalty of graduates to companies Nation-wide regulations guarantee quality and transparency Graduates achieve high employability within the field of their occupation good prospects on the labor market Skilled, up-to-date labor is secured and costs of settling in are reduced important instrument against shortage of skilled labor enables long-term economic success Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 6
Nation-wide regulations for training at school and in companies assure state-recognition and consistent quality Framework curriculum Training regulations for each occupation Individual training contracts Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 7
>320 state-recognized training occupations in all sectors Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 8
What do training regulations cover? State recognition of the occupation Designation of the occupation Duration of training Profile of the training occupation (minimum requirements) Overall training plan (outline of the syllabus) Examination requirements Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 9
Who determines regulations and curricula? Federal & Länder governments Unions Employers Principle of Unanimous Vote Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz, BBiG) German Civil Code (BGB), Protection of Young Workers Act (JASchG), Protection of Working Mothers Act (MSchG) Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 10
School education: Sole responsibility of the Länder Each Land drafts curricula for instruction at vocational schools (after coordination process) Länder finances teachers Länder also supervise chambers Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 11
Federal government responsible for training and examinations Designing training occupations Implementing binding requirements Promoting the dual training system Funding of research projects (e.g., by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, BiBB) Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 12
Unions and Employers form social partnership (Sozialpartnerschaft) Draft proposals for the creation of new and the updating of existing training occupations Nominate experts for participation in the drafting of training regulations Negotiate provisions in collective agreements, e.g., concerning the amount of allowance paid to trainees Give expert statements in parliament during the drafting process of curricula Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 13
Selection of committees on dual training in North Rhine-Westphalia Committee on Vocational Education and Training (Landesausschuss für Berufsbildung) Exists in every Land acc. to the BBiG 50 members of unions, employers and of the public sector; organized by the Ministry of Labor Ausbildungskonsens: Is a particularity in NRW, established voluntarily by the state government in 1996 Exists on the level of the Land and below Consists of members of the government, unions, employers, employment agencies, and cities Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 14
The chambers have been assigned public tasks by the Vocational Training Act: Counseling and monitoring with regard to individual training contracts Verifying the aptitude of companies and instructors Checking and registering training contracts Organization of examinations, incl. setting up examination boards (Prüfungsausschüsse) Awarding certificates Setting up vocational training boards (Berufsbildungsausschüsse) Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 15
Each chamber has to set up a vocational training board 6 teachers 6 representatives of unions 6 representatives of companies Vocational training board Board for all important matters of vocational training Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 16
Final examination Teachers Unions Chambers Examination Board Award certificate of the chambers to successful trainees in the skilled trades: Gesellenbrief Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 17
Supply demand ratio for dual vocational training 2007 and 2013 91.9 85.1 86.8 82.8 85.1 80.7 90.5 104.7 Employers are responsible for providing enough training positions. Federal Constitutional Court in 1980 Germany NRW Lower Saxony Mecklenburg-West Pomerania 2007 2013 Enough means: Ratio should be 112.5 100 applicants should be able to choose between 112.5 training positions. Source, Bertelsmann Stiftung: Ländermonitor berufliche Bildung 2015 Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 18
Number of training positions offered per applicant in different districts of the chamber of industry and commerce in NRW in 2016/17 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.77 1.13 0.89 0.64 0.91 0.56 0.65 0.98 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.95 0.68 0.84 1.11 0.63 0.2 0 Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 19
Percentage of companies offering dual training positions in 2013 19.20 22.00 24.00-5.4% 11.50 on the federal level since 2007 Germany NRW Saarland Brandenburg Source, Bertelsmann Stiftung: Ländermonitor berufliche Bildung 2015 Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 20
>20,000 persons cannot find any dual training position in North Rhine-Westphalia each year Particularly, Hauptschule graduates have increasingly difficulties finding positions (particularly in white-collar occupations) Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 21
Guarantee for a position of dual training? DGB NRW has asked the government of NRW to introduce a fee for all companies that do not offer training positions. The money should then be used to support companies who train young people In some sectors this system has already been successfully established But so far the government has not been willing to introduce this fee for all sectors All young people shall be given every opportunity to train for and exercise a profession. Constitution of North Rhine-Westphalia Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 22
What happens to trainees after their final exam? Germany 39 28 22 11 West 41 27 22 9 East 34 32 20 14 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Permanent contract Temporary contract Left on their own accord Laid off Source, BiBB: BWP 5/2015, figures of 2013 Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 23
Opportunities of further education for dual training graduates In the skilled trades: training programs for acquiring a Meister certificate Academic training: depending on the regulations of the different Länder, dual training graduates can study at universities without a diploma from German secondary school qualifying for university admission. In North Rhine- Westphalia a prerequisite for dual training graduates is working experience of 3 years in the field of study Specialization: In many occupations there are qualification programs on specialized skills and education Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 24
Unemployment rate according to qualification level (in %) 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 14.5 16.9 21.9 21.0 20.3 24.2 26.9 25.8 26.0 24.6 24.0 23.4 23.5 22.2 22.1 22.6 22.1 21.9 20.7 20.1 19.8 19.7 20.0 19.9 20.3 19.1 11.3 9.3 8.1 8.5 8.7 8.1 8.3 8.8 9.6 9.9 9.7 9.1 9.2 9.3 10.1 10.5 10.3 10.2 10.9 11.2 11.8 10.6 9.6 9.7 8.5 8.9 6.9 7.6 7.3 7.4 7.4 7.7 8.4 7.6 5.6 6.1 7.0 6.6 7.0 6.9 7.0 6.8 6.6 6.2 6.0 5.8 5.1 5.0 5.1 4.9 4.6 4.0 3.5 4.1 4.0 4.0 3.7 4.0 3.4 3.4 2.9 3.0 3.7 4.1 4.0 4.1 3.5 2.9 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.4 4.2 Without any formal qualification Graduates of dual training Total Graduates of university 0.0 19911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016 Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 25 2.3 Source, IAB (10/2017): Qualifikationsspezifische Arbeitslosenquoten
Thank you for your attention Kathrin Biegner kathrin.biegner@dgb.de, Twitter: kathrinbiegner Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 26
Further reading https://nrw.dgb.de/ausbildungsreport https://de.scribd.com/document/146536560/germany-dual-training-at-a-glance-federal- Ministry-of-Ed-and-Res www.bmbf.de/pub/the_2005_vocational_training_act.pdf www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/our-projects/vocational-training-opportunities-for-everyone www.bibb.de/veroeffentlichungen/de/publication/show/8217 https://doku.iab.de/arbeitsmarktdaten/qualo_2016.pdf https://www.bibb.de/dokumente/pdf/bibb_refernet_2017_onlineversion_1_barrierefrei.pdf Kathrin Biegner, DGB NRW 27