Under the leadership of the CDU and FDP, Saxony once advertised itself as a low-wage country. The situation has changed in times of a shortage of skilled workers, says the trade union federation.

Dresden (dpa/sn) - The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Saxony sees the state government as having a duty to do more to create attractive jobs. The cabinet must start the new year with momentum and implement important legislative projects of the coalition agreement with more speed, said DGB boss Markus Schlimbach of the German Press Agency. This includes the modernization of the procurement law, the implementation of the laws on equality and civil servants' salaries and the further development of the staff representation law. The test order for an educational exemption law must also be addressed as soon as possible. If such a law is not presented, the DGB and partners are planning a referendum in autumn 2023 for a statutory entitlement to five days of education per year.

Schlimbach also took stock of the year that was coming to an end. It will go down in Saxon economic history as a year "in which the labor market finally turned into an employee market": "The shortage of skilled workers is noticeable everywhere. Every industry without exception complains about a lack of workers and skilled workers. The willingness of employees to change jobs is growing. When the work - and wage conditions are not right, then the company will be changed." Especially among young people, loyalty to a company has fallen significantly, and the quality of employment is playing an increasingly important role.

Employers and industry associations must finally react in order to keep skilled workers and have enough qualified staff in the future, emphasized Schlimbach. Increasingly, binding collective bargaining agreements is becoming a decisive criterion for employees, so things are looking "bleak" for many companies in Saxony: "Anyone who still ensures extremely unequal wage conditions in the company with per capita bonuses for newly hired workers will lose out in the competition for good workers Fair and transparent remuneration conditions via a collective agreement are a competitive advantage for companies bound by collective agreements. Many employers have not yet received this."

There are also other factors such as flexibility in working hours, home office options and measures to prevent employees from being overwhelmed by the intensification of work. "A foosball table and a bowl of fruit at leisure are no longer evidence of good working conditions. Collective wages, co-determination, good training opportunities and the compatibility of family and work are more important," said Schlimbach.

In numerous sectors, there will be wage disputes in 2023, said Schlimbach. "Whether in the food industry, at Deutsche Post, in the public sector or at Deutsche Bahn - in view of the price increases, employees rightly expect significant wage increases and they will fight for them."