PRESS RELEASE Federal Minister of Economics’ Industrial Strategy: IG Metall Urges Swift Implementation

Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall welcomes the clear vision set forth in the industrial strategy presented by Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck to maintain Germany as a strong industrial hub with its unique industrial value-added networks. At the same time, the union is urging swift implementation. “Time is of the essence. Robert Habeck must now quickly move forward with what he has recognized as the right course of action,” demands Jürgen Kerner, Second Chairman of IG Metall. In this regard, the following applies: Government subsidies may only be granted to companies that adhere to collective bargaining agreements, firmly commit to location guarantees, and ensure value creation in Germany.

“We expressly agree with Minister Habeck that industry and its workers, along with their good working conditions, contribute decisively to the social cohesion of our society and also to its democratic stability,” Jürgen Kerner continued.

IG Metall is critical of the fact that even the industrial strategy fails to end the disagreement over the bridge electricity price, which has now been ongoing for months. Kerner renewed his urgent appeal to the federal government: “We need the bridge electricity price—now!”

Companies and workers are in the midst of the greatest transformation in recent history. To navigate this, they need the right framework conditions today, right here and now.

The development of these framework conditions has been neglected by previous federal governments: from the delayed expansion of renewable energy to a lack of charging stations, from the urgent need to streamline planning and permitting laws through a forward-looking reform of German and European state aid law to the often dilapidated infrastructure.