Saxony: Left with a new legislative initiative for public contracts

Dresden (dpa / sn) - The left in the Saxon state parliament wants to link the award of public contracts to certain social criteria.

Saxony: Left with a new legislative initiative for public contracts

Dresden (dpa / sn) - The left in the Saxon state parliament wants to link the award of public contracts to certain social criteria. These include adherence to collective bargaining agreements, a minimum wage and ecological aspects. Her parliamentary group announced a new legislative initiative on Sunday. It formulates the requirements that companies must meet in order to receive government contracts. The contract should not automatically go to the supposedly most economical offer, it said.

"The Free State and its municipalities are the largest clients in Saxony - their responsibility to promote justice in the world of work is all the clearer. Public contracts may only go to companies that treat their employees properly, pay them appropriately and do not damage the environment", said MP Nico Brünler. The motto "cheap wins" must come to an end.

"Good work must win, not only in terms of the quality of the services, but also fairness towards those who work on them," emphasized Brünler. His party demands proper working conditions and an hourly wage of at least 13.50 euros gross - also for temporary work and subcontractors. The lowest asking price should not be the sole deciding factor; offers with unreasonably high or low prices should be dropped.

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Saxony welcomed the initiative. The proposed law contains many of the core demands of the trade unions, said DGB boss Markus Schlimbach. The CDU must finally give up its refusal to amend the Public Procurement Act and become active in favor of fair criteria in public procurement. He called on the parliamentary groups of the CDU, SPD and Greens to immediately tackle the modernization of procurement law agreed in the coalition agreement.