Criticism of Kiziltepes Training levy: bureaucratic monster or solution?

Criticism of Kiziltepes Training levy: bureaucratic monster or solution?

What's wrong in the Berlin training landscape? This question arose at the Economic Policy Breakfast of the IHK, at the Cansel Kiziltepe, the Berlin workers of the SPD, and Sebastian Stizel, President of the IHK. Ten years after a not exactly harmonious rear -end collision, the waves do not seem to become smoother. Kiziltepe presented her plans to introduce a new allocation of training, which is sharply criticized by many entrepreneurs. They warn of a new “bureaucracy monster” that could create additional hurdles for companies without actually generating more training positions. "After all, this is not a solution to our acute problem," said Stiietzel.

In Berlin, over 3,700 young people currently remain without a training position every year. The number of unoccupied apprenticeships has also been quinted since 2009. Kiziltepe is aware of the situation and wants to reach the creation of 2,000 new training positions with its levy by the end of 2025. She explained that Berlin has the lowest training quota in Germany - only half of the federal average. In order to counteract this grievance, the training position levy stipulates that all Berlin businesses deposit into a fund from which training companies will receive money. The amount of the delivery should be between 0.1 and 0.4 percent of the gross wage sum.

Who pays, benefits?

Kiziltepe assured that the full income of the levy is returned to the companies. Nevertheless, the plan encounters resistance. Entrepreneurs refer to the levy as "punishment". It is also particularly critical that small businesses are excluded from the levy, which questions equality in the competition. An entrepreneur even threatened to lower his wages and shift jobs to other federal states, which not only concerned for Berlin, but also for the entire region. Ex-Senator Manja Schreiner warned of the risks of false incentives through the levy. "This is not the right way to improve the situation," says Schreiner.

The Berlin training alliance

To address the challenges, the Berlin training alliance aims to create 2,000 additional training contracts by the end of the year. But that all depends on the successful implementation of the planned measures. Kiziltepe asked the company representatives for patience and assured their clues seriously. However, it is questionable whether these efforts will develop the desired effect and actually lead to an increase in the training quota.

According to current statistics from the Federal Employment Agency, the training quota in Germany is continuously decreasing. The training company rate was 24.1 % in 2007, while in 2022 it fell to 18.9 %. Small businesses that fell from 16.8 % to 10.1 % are particularly affected here. This development clearly shows that there is an urgent need for action. Very few new trainees have been able to be accommodated in the many training positions that were offered in recent years.

The legislative process for the training position levy has already been initiated. In a planned time frame, the draft law is to be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026, which Berlin's political landscape is already exciting. Governing Mayor Kai Wegner from the CDU has also criticized and demands that the focus must be on the actual need for training positions instead of building new bureaucratic hurdles.

The discussion about the training position indicator shows how complex and complex the topic of training in Berlin is. While the senator tries to find a solution to the pressing problems, the question remains: can such a levy really bring the turn or is it just a further step in the wrong direction?