Frankfurt am Main – The textile machinery manufacturing industry is under intense pressure to change, a situation further exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. Only with a motivated and well-trained workforce will it be possible to guide the industry through the crisis unscathed and position it for the future. This is one of the findings of the industry report “Textile Machinery Manufacturing in Germany,” published for the first time by IG Metall in collaboration with the Hans Böckler Foundation and PCG-Project Consult. IG Metall is therefore calling on employers and policymakers to strengthen training and continuing education in the industry, to promote workplace co-determination and thus attractive working conditions, and to work together with works councils to develop sustainable solutions for the future of Germany as an industrial location.
“The crisis has shown that textile machinery manufacturing is an essential part of the value chain for the production of critical goods, such as protective masks. This value creation must be secured in Germany and Europe,” said Wolfgang Lemb, an executive board member responsible, among other things, for machinery and plant engineering, during the presentation of the industry report on Tuesday in Frankfurt am Main. With an export ratio of over 80 percent, textile machinery manufacturers have been relocating their production facilities closer to their target markets for years. As a result, the industry—and above all, manufacturing jobs in Germany—are under pressure due to dependence on markets outside the EU. “Research and production must continue to be considered together, because the COVID-19 crisis in particular has shown how important stable value chains are,” said Lemb.
In light of the recent decline in apprenticeship opportunities, Lemb urged: “To meet the demand for skilled workers, the textile machinery manufacturing sector needs significantly more apprenticeship positions again. The current reduction must be reversed to ensure the industry’s long-term viability.”
With this industry report, IG Metall is providing, for the first time, a detailed picture of the textile machinery manufacturing sector in Germany from the employees’ perspective. The report examines the structure and development of the industry, analyzes trends and future challenges, and makes policy recommendations.
The report identifies four megatrends as key factors that significantly shape the industry’s current and future challenges: globalization, demographic change and securing a skilled workforce, digitalization and automation, and environmentally friendly production and resource efficiency.
From the perspective of the works council members surveyed, this comprehensive agenda highlights an urgent need for action in workplace workforce planning, as young skilled workers in particular are becoming increasingly difficult to find. In their view, other important future issues include retirement benefits, digitalization, and work-life balance, all of which are essential for sustainably increasing the industry’s appeal to employees. IG Metall calls on employers to work together with their works councils and IG Metall to address these challenges in the best interests of employees.
Further information and press photos of Wolfgang Lemb
Industry Report “Textile Machinery Manufacturing in Germany”
