The food industry makes a significant contribution to the range of training opportunities

Together with the ANG (Employers' Association for Food and Pleasure), the BVE supports the "National Pact for Training and the Next Generation of Skilled Workers in Germany". In this pact concluded between the state and industry, the central organizations of German industry are calling on companies to create new training places and, if necessary, to take measures to provide initial qualifications for young people. With this pact it was also possible to end the debate about the controversial apprenticeship fee.

The food industry is fully aware of its social responsibility as a provider of training positions. There are already numerous initiatives in companies in this direction. This also reflects the above-average training rate (proportion of trainees among employees subject to social security contributions) in the food and beverages sector in a sector comparison. In terms of training participation, the food industry is above average compared to other economic sectors. This strong commitment to vocational training is not least due to extremely selfish reasons, because securing the future need for well-trained specialists is an essential criterion for the long-term competitiveness of companies.

Nevertheless, it is important to intensify efforts and create more training places, even if they are only individual ones. According to information from the Federal Institute for Vocational Training, even more young people will be without a training place next autumn than in the previous year. We therefore ask our members to contact their companies accordingly.

The main reason for the problematic training market situation lies in the weak economy. Likewise, the declining employment and the lack of training maturity of many applicants are to be seen as problems in this context. Last but not least, in order to overcome these difficulties, the collective bargaining partners must create additional incentives for apprenticeship training and remove obstacles.

In this context, it should not go unmentioned that, despite the tense situation on the labor market in the old federal states, vacancies in the food industry could not be filled in the past due to a lack of suitable applicants. This is shown by the supply-demand relation, according to which in 2002 there were 103,4 training offers for every 100 inquirers (Federal Institute for Vocational Training).

Source: Bonn [bve]