Majority of Germans Oppose Coalition Plan to Extend Fixed-Term Contracts to Four Years
Published on 07/06/2026 at 20:07 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A YouGov survey of roughly 6,200 people reveals that 54 percent of Germans reject the governing coalition’s proposal to lengthen fixed-term employment contracts without cause to up to 48 months. Only 26 percent back the plan, which would apply to new hires until the end of 2030. The figures signal widespread unease as unions and youth representatives mobilise ahead of next year’s elections for in-house apprentice councils.
The opposition to relaxed fixed-term rules comes at a moment of heightened tension in German industry. At Volkswagen, speculation is growing over cost-cutting measures and possible job reductions stretching to the end of the decade. Meanwhile, workers at Mercedes-Benz protested in early July, partly over the postponement of a contractual special bonus payment until 2027. Both cases reflect a broader sense of insecurity that the proposed extended fixed-term contracts would only deepen, critics argue.
In response, the IG Metall union is pushing for stronger representation at the shop-floor level. Elections for youth and apprentice representative bodies (JAV) will take place in 2026, and the union’s Heidelberg branch is already offering training courses for prospective election boards and information sessions for would-be candidates. Their central demands include fair hiring practices, better apprenticeship conditions and systematic access to further training.
Housing shortages are an additional hurdle for apprentices, particularly in expensive cities. In Berlin, the senate has opened a new dormitory in the Lichtenberg district with 154 furnished places at a monthly warm rent of 340 euros. Each place receives a subsidy of 140 euros per month. Demand surged: around 1,200 applications were received for the available spots. An additional 100 to 150 beds are planned for 2027.
The healthcare sector is also seeing unrest. Starting 6 July, multi-day warning strikes hit university hospitals in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Tübingen and Ulm. The ver.di union is demanding a 7.5 percent wage increase, plus an extra 250 euros per month for trainees and a mobility allowance. Employers have so far offered a one-off payment of 400 euros and a phased 4.75 percent increase.
Beyond in-work support, off-the-job programmes are gaining traction. In Bremen-Walle, the Youth Competence Centre (Wabeq) has moved into larger premises. It assists up to 100 young people simultaneously with career orientation, achieving a placement rate of up to 46 percent per cohort. The project has been extended until July 2029.
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