Thuringia's Mario Voigt Pushes for Federal Focus on East German Issues

The newly elected Minister-President calls for a comprehensive plan addressing demographic challenges and workforce shortages in eastern states.

Mario Voigt, Thuringia's new Minister-President and chair of the East-Minister Presidents' Conference, advocates for a federal commitment to addressing issues specific to eastern Germany.
Voigt highlights demographic concerns, noting that Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt rank as the oldest states in Germany by population age, affecting healthcare and labor markets.
Key proposals include an 'Aktivrente' policy, allowing retirees to earn up to €2,000 per month tax-free, and initiatives to integrate youth without formal qualifications into the workforce.
Voigt emphasizes the need for both domestic and international skilled labor, citing the reliance on foreign professionals, such as the 25% of Thüringen's clinic doctors who are migrants.
As part of his agenda, Voigt plans to launch a 'Growth and Jobs' dialogue with employers and unions to address workforce transformation in sectors like automotive manufacturing.