A lack of doctors at risk of training starts: Young people remain without an investigation!

A lack of doctors at risk of training starts: Young people remain without an investigation!

In the Rems-Murr district in Baden-Württemberg, 16-year-old Louis Kempter is confronted with a serious problem. The young man wants to start an apprenticeship at customs, but he lacks the necessary youth work protection examination, which is a prerequisite for the valid training contract in accordance with the Youth Labor Protection Act (JarbSchG). swr reports that his pediatrician refuses to carry out the examination, since the payment is perceived as insufficient. The examination itself takes around 45 minutes and includes various tests, including hearing and visual inspections as well as a medical questionnaire.

Although Louis has passed all the necessary recording tests and has the silver sports badge, his desire to study remains unfulfilled. Health checks for young people are required by law to ensure that they are not endangered by unsuitable work. ​​Occupational Safety and Health NRW declares that employer must demonstrate proof of the health suitability of the young person before training can begin. A fee of around 23 euros is due for the investigation, while the actual costs for the doctors should be between 90 and 100 euros.

Financial hurdles and general problems

Payment for the investigations has not changed since 1996, and the State Medical Association calls for an increase. This situation means that more and more doctors in different regions, including the Rems-Murr district, reject the implementation of the necessary examinations. This is not just a problem for Louis, but also affects many young people who want to start training in Baden-Württemberg and beyond. SWR points out that employers are not able to enter the contracts as long as the health examination is missing.

A possible solution could be an increase in the remuneration for the implementation of the youth work protection examination or the coverage of the costs by the employer. The Federal Ministry of Health already has knowledge of the problem and is working on a solution. Pediatrician Ralf Brügel hopes that the situation will improve until the start of training in September.

regulations and procedures for the investigation

The relevant regulations for the medical examinations are determined in the Youth Labor Protection Act. According to this law, all young people between the ages of 15 and under the age of 18 must have an initial examination before the start of their training. A examination permit is required, and this can be requested from the children's and youth health service of the last school attended. Furthermore, young people receive a UBS ID that can be used for the investigation. service.berlin.de emphasizes that these examinations aim to avoid health risks and to check the health of the youngsters.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether and how the responsible bodies react to the current situation. The fate of young people like Louis depends crucially on whether solutions are found to carry out the necessary examinations and thus enable the start of professional life.