Overview
- At a parliamentary hearing, SPD and CDU members joined the Greens, the Left and the DGB in speaking for the levy, while the IHK and several employers argued against it.
- The draft under discussion would charge 0.46% of a company’s gross wage bill above a de minimis threshold, with exemptions for solo self‑employed and day care centers and debate referencing a cap of up to 0.5%.
- Proponents cite Bremen’s model, where firms pay 0.27% of turnover into a fund and receive about €2,250 per successfully trained apprentice, though that scheme has drawn roughly 350 lawsuits with a key ruling expected in 2026.
- A joint appeal from major Berlin employers warns of added costs and bureaucracy and argues many firms already train but cannot find suitable applicants, a claim unions dispute as they call the levy an investment in a stronger skills pipeline.
- The measure is tied to a coalition target to raise apprenticeship offers by 2,000 by the end of 2025, no final decision was taken at the hearing, and the Senate signaled it could amend the October 9 draft.