Berlin Reviews Refugee Shelter Procurement: Non-profits Push for Better Working Conditions and Local Networking
Berlin is reviewing its procurement guidelines for refugee shelter operators. Non-profit organizations have proposed including working conditions and local networking in the criteria. The Senate is considering these suggestions, but has raised concerns about preferring local networking.
Currently, refugee accommodations in Berlin are executed by private contractors like the Prisod Wohnheimbetriebs GmbH, with price being the primary criterion in procurement procedures. However, some operators such as the Evangelical Church and Diakonisches Werk have collective agreements for their employees in shelters. The Senate does not track the number of operators complying with collective agreements.
Elif Eralp, migration policy spokesperson, has criticized the lack of control over working conditions in refugee shelters. The Left Party has proposed transferring shelters to municipal control and paying employees according to the state's collective agreement. This is due to Berlin's relatively low rate of collectively agreed employment contracts, often attributed to many small businesses and start-ups.
The non-profit organizations' proposal aims to ensure better working conditions and local networking. Future public tenders may exclude or prefer organizations based on compliance with collective agreements. However, specific exclusion or preference policies are not yet detailed.
The Senate is evaluating the proposals, but has expressed concerns about preferring local networking in procurement procedures. The Berlin minimum wage of 13.69 euros applies if there's no branch-specific minimum wage in refugee shelters. Companies like European Homecare, a subsidiary of the Serco Group, operate refugee shelters in Berlin and may be affected by these changes.
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