The case of Germany
Temporary agency work and collective bargaining in the EU
German Economic Institute (IW)
The case of Germany
The significance of temporary agency work is still increasing. Both the number of agencies and the number of temporary agency workers has grown since 2004. The equal treatment clause of the Temporary Employment Act, which provides the relevant regulatory framework, has led to the country-wide coverage of temporary agency work by three competing collective agreements. The agreements have allowed the agencies to deviate from the equal treatment clause.
More on the topic
German Wage Policy between Inflation and Stagnation: Are Conflicts with the Aims of Monetary Policy Looming?
After the economic and financial crisis of 2008/9, the German labour market soon began to recover, creating scope for a comparatively expansive wage policy.
IW
The Pros and Cons of Trade Union Membership
The decline in collective bargaining coverage in Germany is often attributed to the reluctance of companies to join an employers' association which negotiates collective agreements.
IW