Overview

• The draft law, now under consultation, would obligate companies to pay 0.1–0.5 percent of their gross wage bills into a fund that disburses flat-rate incentives for each apprentice.
• Micro-enterprises are exempt from the levy and the measure will be suspended if Berlin reaches 34,853 apprentices by the end of 2025.
• Industry and Chamber of Commerce representatives have criticized the proposal as overly bureaucratic and punitive, arguing it fails to guarantee new training slots.
• Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe’s calculations show it would face over €600,000 in annual contributions despite currently training beyond its staffing needs.
• Several firms have signaled they may lower gross wages or relocate jobs to other states unless the levy yields clear increases in apprenticeship contracts.