Factsheet for measure
DE-2002-27/2597
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Updated
– measures in Germany
Sikoflex working time account
Sikoflex
Background information
Working time accounts are spreading, resulting in concerns over employees' risk of losing credits and reimbursement in the case of employer insolvency. While the 2009 Act for improving the framework conditions of safeguarding flexible working time arrangements addresses this problem for long-term working time accounts, Sikoflex addresses short-term accounts of up to a 12-months duration in the scaffolding and construction industry. Based on a collective agreement, the Soka-Bau, the social security fund for the scaffolding trade, administers the instrument Sikoflex .
Content of measure
Sikoflex is available to both blue and white-collar workers. Sikoflex guarantees employees a 100% payment in lieu of accumulated time credits (in the framework of working time accounts) in the event of their employer becoming insolvent. Overall,Sikoflex provides working time flexibility and income security for workers saving uptime in working time accounts. Employees are more willing to use such tools when working time accounts are insured against company's bankruptcy.
Companies pay monthly contributions for Sikoflex accounts. Payments are made according to agreed hourly wages at the time of payment. Individual security tickets guarantee reimbursement of time accounts based on monthly per person or per hour (gross wage) deposits by the employer. The employer pays an additional lump sum of €7.50 plus €1.50 per employee (in 2020). An external IT service can be used to reduce bureaucracy. Usage is voluntary and it is up to the employer to decide whether or not to implement this scheme.
In addition, the scheme can also be used to deplete working time accounts during winter season (when demand for construction services is low). In this case, the Federal Employment Agency provides a subsidy worth €2.50 per every working hour used.
Simple administrative procedures support small businesses' use of working time accounts, attractive interest rates are granted, improved liquidity in times of low demand for companies' products. Sikoflex provides a one-stop shop solution with low charges for Sikoflex and easy implementation at the company level. The maximum period of the instrument is 12 months.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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01 June 2022
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According to the latest data available (November 2020), as of December 2017, there were approximately 30,000 Sikoflex accounts held by about 1,100 companies (10% increase from 2016). As mentioned above, credits accumulated in working time accounts are insured against bankruptcy. According to a small survey by Soka-Bau, 96% of the surveyed companies were very satisfied or satisfied with the instrument and 93% would recommend Sikoflex. In its annual report 2021, SOKA-Bau released its latest figures on the usage of the Sikoflex scheme: Number of establishments using the scheme continued to rise from 1,139 establishment in 2018 to 1,272 establishments in 2021. This means that during this period the number of working time accounts also rose from 32,403 accounts (2018) to 35,393 accounts (2021).
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Use of measure
According to the latest data available ( November 2020), as of December 2017, there were approximately 30,000 Sikoflex accounts held by about 1,100 companies (10% increase from 2016).
As mentioned above, credits accumulated in working time accounts are insured against bankruptcy. According to a small survey by Soka-Bau, 96% of the surveyed companies were very satisfied or satisfied with the instrument and 93% would recommend Sikoflex.
In its annual report 2021, SOKA-Bau released its latest figures on the usage of the Sikoflex scheme: Number of establishments using the scheme continued to rise from 1,139 establishment in 2018 to 1,272 establishments in 2021. This means that during this period the number of working time accounts also rose from 32,403 accounts (2018) to 35,393 accounts (2021).
Contents
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Social partners jointly
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Companies
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Social partners jointly
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Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level
Involvement
Social partner in the scaffolding trade and the construction industry negotiated an collective agreement by which several social security or working time issues are at the sectoral level. The Soka-Bau is the sectoral social security fund for the scaffolding trade and the construction industry
Views and reactions
Social partners joined to set up their own sectoral social fund and support actively dealing with several issues specific to the scaffolding and construction industries (e.g. bad weather season).
Sectors and occupations
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This case is sector-specific (only private sector)
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Economic area
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Sector (NACE level 2)
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F - Construction
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F41 Construction of buildings
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F42 Civil engineering
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F43 Specialised construction activities
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This case is not occupation-specific.
Sources
