Court Rulings and Regulatory Shifts Tighten German Workplace Obligations Across Solar, Layoffs, and Safety
28.06.2026 - 15:57:59 | boerse-global.de
A packed week of legal and administrative decisions in Germany and abroad is redrawing the rules for employers, tradespeople, and safety professionals. From a landmark ruling on photovoltaic installations to relaxed mass-layoff notification standards and a temporary freeze on psychosocial risk fines in Brazil, the changes touch multiple industries.
From Germany to Brazil, employers worldwide face tightening safety regulation. In the UK, failing to keep compliant documentation can lead to serious penalties. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists, and templates covering key UK regulations like the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH, and PUWER. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
Solar Work Now Requires Formal Trade Registration
The Koblenz Higher Regional Court has clarified that anyone planning, installing, or maintaining photovoltaic systems must be listed in the German Handwerksrolle (crafts register). The ruling, issued on June 2, 2026, (file number 9 U 1015/25) targets roofers and electrical engineers in particular. Without a qualified handcraft license, such work now carries legal risk.
Employer Liability Insurance Tariff Overhaul Brings Relief
The Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse (BG ETEM) adopted a new risk tariff on June 26, effective January 1, 2027, through the end of 2032. It merges the previous tariff categories 1305 and 1306 for electrical installations into a single category 1305 with a hazard class rating of 9.07.
A built-in cost-reduction mechanism gives members an automatic 18 percent contribution discount from the third year of membership onward—provided their individual accident costs do not eat into the bonus. The first contributions affected will be those for 2028. Coverage for so-called one-euro job seekers (long-term unemployed in workfare placements) remains unchanged, with statutory accident insurance applying under the Social Code while health and long-term care insurance are handled through the citizen's benefit system.
Bigger Mistakes in Mass-Layoff Notifications Still Dangerous, But Small Errors Now Tolerated
Germany's Federal Labor Court (BAG) loosened the formal requirements for mass-layoff notices on June 25. A minor overstatement of the number of dismissed employees no longer invalidates the termination. In the specific case, a company reported 34 layoffs instead of the actual 31 or 32, and the dismissal remained effective.
However, the court warned that larger errors can prove costly. Earlier this spring, the BAG had ruled that filing a notification before completing the consultation process renders the layoff void.
Brazil Suspends Psychosocial Risk Fines for 90 Days
Internationally, occupational safety law saw movement as Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) suspended fines under Directive NR-1 for 90 days as of June 25. The measure concerns the identification of psychosocial risks. Prevention duties remain in place; the suspension creates room for mediation procedures. In the transport sector, companies are already integrating mental health and fatigue management into their risk management systems.
Managing psychosocial risks requires a structured approach. Employers who document their risk assessments thoroughly are better prepared for both inspections and incidents. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit offers 41 ready-made templates and checklists for fire safety, manual handling, first aid, lone working, and more. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
Industrial Communication Protocols Get Security Whitepaper
In May, PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI) released a whitepaper on the secure deployment of industrial communication protocols. The risk-based approach covers systems including PROFINET, IO-Link, and PROFIBUS. The Berufsgenossenschaft Holz und Metall (BGHM) is offering basic seminars on the topic, with the next course starting July 1 in Saarbrücken and additional dates in September, October, November, and December at various locations. Participation is free for insured parties.
