Berlin's divisive apprenticeship levy faces make-or-break vote on Thursday
Berlin House of Representatives to Vote on Training Levy Amid CDU Divisions
On Thursday, Berlin's House of Representatives is set to hold a final vote on introducing a mandatory training levyâa proposal that has exposed deep divisions within the city's CDU faction. According to the Berliner Morgenpost, only a slim majority of CDU lawmakers backed the coalition project in an internal party vote, with just 26 out of 52 faction members supporting the measure.
The narrow victory was possible because only 42 members participated in the ballot. Reports suggest that the remaining 16 CDU representatives either voted against the levy or abstained in equal numbers. Despite the internal dissent, faction leader Dirk Stettner insisted, "In the plenary session, we will present a united front, with very few exceptions."
Business Leaders Ramp Up Opposition as Some CDU Lawmakers Waver Berlin's business community has spent weeks fiercely opposing the levyâand their campaign appears to have swayed some CDU members. Last Friday, in protest, business representatives boycotted a Senate-led training alliance meeting.
Alexander Schirp, managing director of the Berlin-Brandenburg Employers' Associations, called the upcoming parliamentary vote a "decisive moment", warning that approval would amount to "a direct affront to Berlin's economy." Sebastian Stietzel, president of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, struck a similar tone: "If this law actually passes, one thing will be clear: when it comes to this issue, at least, facts and substantive arguments about the real challenges in the training market simply don't matter in political circles."
The levy was originally agreed upon in the coalition treaty between the CDU and SPD, which stipulated its introduction if fewer than 2,000 new apprenticeships were created within two years. The final tally fell short, with only 1,300 new positions established.
Last-Minute Revisions to the Draft Law Last week, coalition leaders unveiled significant amendments to the draft legislation proposed by the Senate Department for Labor, headed by Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD). Under the revised plan, all companies with more than ten employees that fail to provide sufficient training opportunities will be required to pay into a dedicated fund. Businesses that expand their apprenticeship programsâexceeding the Berlin averageâwill be reimbursed for the associated costs.
The law is slated to take effect in 2028 and will be repealed once 2,000 additional apprenticeships, compared to December 2024 levels, have been created.
