New German Law Aims to Promote a More Inclusive Labor Market

The German legislature recently passed the “Act to Promote an Inclusive Labor Market” which will enter into force on January 1, 2024. The purpose of the law is to improve the conditions for individuals with disabilities, enabling their active engagement in the labor market and facilitating more consistent participation. To achieve this purpose, it also contains provisions to help maintain existing employment relationships of individuals experiencing health impairments. Furthermore, the law aims to provide more focused assistance for individuals with severe disabilities.

Intentional Failure to Apply for Unemployment Benefits During Dismissal Protection Proceedings

The existence of an employee’s obligation to report to the Employment Agency immediately after they receive notice of termination is not new. In its ruling of October 12, 2022, the German Federal Labor Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht – BAG) had to deal, among other things, with the question of whether there was a malicious intent to fail to earn money during a period of default of acceptance and what effects a failure to notify to the Employment Agency in due time can affect the claim to payment of default of acceptance wages.

German Parliament Passes Whistleblower Protection Act

On the morning of May 12, 2023, the Bundesrat (upper house of the German parliament) approved the updated draft of a law for better protection of whistleblowers and for the implementation of the directive on the protection of persons who report infringements of Union law (Whistleblower Protection Act). Just the day before, the German Bundestag approved the law, a compromise worked out in the Mediation Committee. This means that both chambers of parliament have approved the compromise.