Labour Minister Bas vows stronger worker protections amid AI and economic pressures
Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas addressed delegates at the DGB trade union congress, outlining key achievements and pressing challenges. She stressed the need for stronger worker protections amid rising concerns over job security, AI-driven changes, and economic pressures.
Bas began by highlighting recent progress, including a higher minimum wage and a €500 billion investment plan for infrastructure, digitalisation, and modernisation. She also pointed to the extension of the pension stability mechanism and a national action plan to boost collective bargaining coverage.
She warned against mass job losses from AI, calling for stricter employee data protection laws, upskilling programmes, and greater worker involvement in decision-making. Many employees, she noted, struggle with high fuel costs, long commutes, and financial instability. The minister defended her policies against criticism from business leaders, arguing that sustainable growth depends on fair wages, investment, and modernisation. She also pushed for a more assertive European industrial policy to shield sectors like steel from unfair competition. Bas drew clear distinctions between the SPD and the CDU/CSU, particularly on pensions, healthcare, working hours, and labour rights. While she largely avoided direct criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she made it clear that modernising the welfare state did not mean cutting benefits. Instead, she pledged to fully implement the Social Welfare Commission’s recommendations. Her speech also touched on broader challenges, from geopolitical conflicts and energy prices to trade tariffs and the escalating tensions in Iran.
Bas’s address underscored the government’s focus on protecting workers while navigating economic and technological shifts. The proposed measures—ranging from wage safeguards to industrial policy reforms—aim to address immediate concerns while preparing for long-term changes in the labour market.
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