Berlin/Frankfurt am Main – The German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) and the German Metalworkers’ Union (IG Metall) have jointly called for a socio-ecological transformation of the economy as a sustainable path out of the crisis. “We share the vision of a good life for all. This guiding principle unites us, even in times of crisis,” IG Metall and BUND stated on Thursday. Both organizations generally welcome the measures swiftly and decisively adopted by the federal government and the Bundestag to stabilize the economy and employment. However, the federal government must take corrective action in the coming weeks. The focus must now be on preventing social imbalances and using the crisis as an opportunity to #FairlyTransform the German economy.
The socio-ecological transformation must be vigorously advanced across various industries and companies. The government can support the necessary restructuring processes, including through the potential state investments currently under discussion. BUND and IG Metall conclude that if the community must provide support during hard times and in the face of heavy losses, companies cannot simply privatize profits during good times. Rather, they must be required to respect all existing co-determination rights, adhere to social standards, and design their business models to be compatible with the 1.5-degree target.
Economic stimulus programs can also serve to secure decent work and create new jobs. They also present an opportunity to drive forward the already necessary transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially just economy that prioritizes the common good. Climate protection and biodiversity conservation are also fundamental prerequisites for our coexistence. Investments must therefore flow into both social and ecological infrastructure, thereby securing essential public services for our society.
IG Metall President Jörg Hofmann and Olaf Bandt, President of BUND, jointly state: “We observe that the government is currently providing companies with substantial financial assistance and, in doing so, is even suspending the debt brake. We welcome this approach during the crisis. However, we view with concern the social imbalance in the legislation on short-time work: In cases of short-time work, employers are reimbursed for social security contributions—not only the employer’s share, but also the employees’ share. But companies are not made up solely of their owners; they consist of employees who are currently expected to bear the brunt of the crisis with dramatic income losses ranging from 33 to 40 percent of their net pay. This is unfair; it puts people in situations where they can no longer afford their rent or basic living expenses. Together, we therefore call on the federal government to eliminate this social imbalance.”
Further information and press photos of Jörg Hofmann
