Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 61 measures in Germany in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cases fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat with 15 cases (25%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, with the next main update scheduled for July 2020.
This overview was prepared by Birgit Kraemer (Hans Boeckler Foundation) and Eurofound.
|
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
|---|---|
| 17 September 2020 |
Premia for care workers in elderly care
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
| 08 October 2020 Updated |
Social Protection Acts I, II and III
Other |
Bipartite collective agreements |
| 14 April 2020 |
Sectoral agreement on bonus for eldercare workers
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
| 15 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 agreement covering workers employed by German Rail (DB) Deutsche Bahn (and collective bargaining)
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
| 15 September 2020 Updated |
One-time premium for construction workers
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
| 17 September 2020 |
Public sector collective agreement includes Corona bonus
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
| 17 September 2020 |
Premium for hospital workers
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
| 09 December 2020 |
Keeping workers safe at public utility company Böblingen
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
Company practices |
| 17 April 2020 |
HR partnership between McDonald's and ALDI
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
| 08 December 2020 |
Corona premia for employees in German Parliament
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Other initiatives or policies |
| 15 September 2020 |
Chamber of industry sets up platform for employee sharing and exchange
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
|
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
|---|---|
| 07 April 2020 Updated |
KfW instant loan for medium-sized entreprises
Access to finance |
| 07 April 2020 Updated |
KFW entrepreneur loan
Access to finance |
| 07 April 2020 Updated |
Economic stabilisation fund
Access to finance |
| 07 April 2020 Updated |
Direct participation for syndicate financing
Access to finance |
| 08 April 2020 Updated |
Customised support for start-ups
Access to finance |
| 09 April 2020 Updated |
Postponing insolvency procedures
Rescue procedures in case of insolvency or adaptation of insolvency regulation |
| 09 April 2020 Updated |
Deferral of tax payments
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
| 09 April 2020 Updated |
Adjusting tax prepayments
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
| 09 April 2020 Updated |
Waiving overdue tax debts
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
| 19 April 2020 Updated |
Baden-Württemberg: Emergency aid for businesses with up to 50 employees
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
| 07 October 2020 Updated |
Social Care Provider Act
Access to finance |
| 18 January 2021 |
November and December Aid
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Other initiatives or policies |
| 14 September 2020 |
Employer information on COVID-19 help measures
Other |
| 14 September 2020 |
Employers organisations FAQs on COVID-19
Other |
| 14 September 2020 |
Practical tool for companies to document business changes due to COVID-19
Access to finance |
|
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
|---|---|
| 13 April 2020 Updated |
Easier access to short-time work
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
| 09 April 2020 |
Chemical sector: Collective agreement for getting through the COVID-19 pandemic
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
| 09 April 2020 |
Metal and electrical sector: Social partners settle crisis agreement
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
| 15 April 2020 |
First collective agreement on short-time working for municipal workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
| 15 April 2020 |
Audiovisual sector: First collective agreement on short-time working
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
| 17 April 2020 Updated |
Collective agreement on short-time working in system catering
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
| 16 September 2020 |
Agreed premium but no wage rise for rubber workers
Wage flexibility |
Company practices |
| 15 September 2020 |
Short-time work at Thyssenkrupp Steel
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
| 26 October 2020 |
Flexibity in wages and working hours at Covestro
Wage flexibility |
|
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
|---|---|
| 21 May 2020 |
Stricter regulations for the meat industry
Occupational health and safety |
| 15 September 2020 |
Trade unions support members to exercise right to withhold performance in case of OSH violations
Occupational health and safety |
| 15 July 2021 |
Occupational safety and health inspection act
Occupational health and safety |
| 15 July 2021 |
Sars-CoV-2 Occupational safety and health standard and ordinance
Occupational health and safety |
Bipartite collective agreements |
| 09 December 2020 |
Secure pay and safe working conditions at Krones
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
| 09 December 2020 |
Safe working conditions and safe production at B. Braun Melsungen AG
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Company practices |
| 09 December 2020 |
New Normal Working Model at Siemens
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
| 10 December 2020 |
Integrating outsourced workers at Tönnies
Well-being of workers |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
| 15 September 2020 |
Local Chamber of Industry and Commerce issue handout for companies to develop hygiene concepts
Occupational health and safety |
| 15 September 2020 |
COVID-19 OSH standards for industrial cleaners
Occupational health and safety |
Other initiatives or policies |
| 15 September 2020 |
COVID-19 info-hotline for East European workers
Occupational health and safety |
|
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
|---|---|
| 09 April 2020 Updated |
Basic income support for solo self-employed
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
| 14 May 2020 Updated |
Bavaria: Extended aid for solo self-employed artists and performers
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
| 29 May 2020 |
Adjustments to parental allowances
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
| 29 May 2020 Updated |
Compensation of income losses for parents affected by lockdowns
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
| 10 January 2021 Updated |
Income compensation in case of school or nursery closures (BMFSFJ)
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
| 10 January 2021 |
Parental leave payment flexibilisation
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
| 10 January 2021 Updated |
Instant support for employees with care duties
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
| 23 November 2020 |
German Railways (DB) collective agreement 'Corona package'
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
|
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
|---|---|
| 06 May 2020 |
Emergency child supplement
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
| 10 January 2021 Updated |
Child benefit top-up
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
| 11 January 2021 Updated |
Easing access to basic income scheme
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Company practices |
| 01 December 2020 |
Short-time work at Steigenberger Hotel Frankfurt
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
|
Tripartite agreements |
|
|---|---|
| 15 September 2020 |
Pact for German Rail
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
| 02 October 2020 |
Guidelines for the support of people with special needs
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Company practices |
| 09 December 2020 |
Corona bonus at Daimler Germany
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.