PRESS RELEASE Textile and Apparel Industry Establishes Collective Bargaining Framework for Bike Leasing

Berlin/Frankfurt am Main – The Federation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry and IG Metall have concluded a framework collective bargaining agreement on deferred compensation for bicycle leasing in the textile and apparel industry. The agreement applies nationwide to companies in the industry bound by collective bargaining agreements and establishes the legal basis for company bicycle programs.

In terms of content, the collective bargaining agreement is based on voluntary participation: Company bicycle programs can be introduced in companies with a works council exclusively on the basis of a voluntary works agreement; there is no obligation to do so. At the same time, the collective bargaining agreement also allows for bicycle leasing on a voluntary basis in companies without a works council. In such cases, the parties to the collective bargaining agreement must agree on the specific terms in accordance with the framework conditions set forth in the agreement. The collective bargaining agreement will take effect on August 1, 2026.

“With the new framework collective bargaining agreement, we are creating a clear framework for company bicycle programs that gives companies leeway in their implementation while also enabling modern, sustainable mobility options for employees,” said a spokesperson for the General Association of the German Textile and Fashion Industry. A spokesperson for IG Metall pointed out that the new agreement marks a first in collective bargaining: “With this agreement, we have not only made fair and regulated access to bicycle leasing possible. The first nationwide sectoral collective bargaining agreement also sends a signal for a modern collective bargaining landscape in the textile and apparel industry.”