Germany's industrial decline sparks urgent call for policy reforms
Berlin. Amid the ongoing crisis in the metal and electrical industries, Christiane Benner, chair of the IG Metall union, is calling on companies to ramp up production in Germany and the EU while creating jobs.
In an interview with Bild (Monday edition), Benner stated: "Those who sell in Europe and Germany must also produce here. That's how we generate value on the ground. Otherwise, who will buy cars in Germany in the long run?"
Benner criticized the steady erosion of jobs in Germany, warning of a "severe hemorrhageâespecially in research and development." Speaking to Bild, the union leader noted that while countries like China are expanding high-tech positions, German firms are cutting them. "What worries me is that companies here are eliminating these jobs, treating innovation as just another cost burden."
She urged the federal government to improve conditions for industry, praising socially tiered subsidies for electric vehicle purchases as a step in the right direction. However, she highlighted persistent shortcomings in charging infrastructure, affordable electricity for charging, high energy prices, and support for battery production. "With a strategic approach and the right framework, we can absolutely succeed in developing and maintaining a competitive industrial sector," Benner explained.
