Growing industry Billion dollar business with environmental protection

Status: 23.06.2021 10:45 a.m.

Environmental protection is increasingly becoming an economic factor, especially in manufacturing. According to the Federal Statistical Office, sales are increasing and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created in Germany. Environmental and climate protection are increasingly proving to be a lucrative business for industry and service providers. As the Federal Statistical Office announced, the industry achieved sales of 73.6 billion euros in 2019, 3.1 percent more than in the previous year.

Three quarters of this was achieved in the manufacturing sector, first and foremost in mechanical engineering (22.1 billion euros), followed by electrical equipment (6.5 billion euros) and the manufacture of cars, trucks and buses – and parts for them (5.8 billion euros) Euro).

The construction and maintenance of apparatus for air pollution control has grown particularly strongly. Here sales climbed by more than a third to 10.5 billion euros. These were mainly products for exhaust gas and exhaust air treatment, such as catalytic converters. In the area of ​​electromobility (limited to cars, trucks and buses), sales of 2.5 billion euros were reported in 2019, 24 percent more than a year earlier.

Over 300,000 employees

Energy-saving drive and control technology, the construction of onshore wind turbines, the thermal insulation of buildings, and the renovation and construction of sewer systems also ensured business worth billions.

The growing importance of environmental protection for the German economy is also leading to the creation of new jobs, so-called “green jobs”. The number of employees who contributed goods or services to the industry was 305,000 in 2019. Compared to the previous year, the number rose by almost 16,000. More than two thirds of the employees in the sector were employed in manufacturing companies

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VW factory in Emden When 8,000 employees have to rethink

Status: 19.06.2021 10:18 a.m.

In the future, only electric cars will roll off the assembly line at the VW plant in Emden. This means billions in costs for the group – and many changes for the employees. And some jobs will probably disappear.

From Sebastian Duden, NDR

“What is that again?” Andreas Buse looks at his trainer questioningly and points to a magnetic picture that he should hang in the right place on a board. “This is the heater for the battery, which is also in the front of the vehicle.” It is about basic knowledge of the new electric cars that are to be built here at the Volkswagen plant in Emden from 2022. All 8,000 employees at the site go through the training.

It doesn’t work without a plug

It will be more special for the production staff at the next station. Buse has to be even more careful. This is about plugs. He’s trying to build a cable to an electric car charger. It doesn’t work, and he has to find the problem. “Ah, okay, a pin is bent, that’s why it doesn’t work.” His instructor nods. “So don’t just check the connector, but always look at the component to see if nothing is bent.” Plugs – they will be even more important in the future, so they have already been. Without a plug there is no flow of electricity, and then they cannot even drive the cars out of the hall. “To know that the vehicle cannot be delivered at all and that a fault then has to be laboriously searched for, that is something I have great respect for,” says Buse.

No oil, no engine compartment

One hall further is the ID.4 – the electric car that will roll off the assembly line here from 2022. It’s an SUV, weighing more than two tons. Much of the weight is caused by the large battery. Depending on the model, the ID.4 should travel up to 500 kilometers.

“The dipstick is no longer there, oily fingers, the time is over,” says project manager Hanno Greune. He opens the “bonnet” of the car, which actually doesn’t deserve the name anymore, because you won’t find an engine here. That is not much more than a “technical room”, he admits, there are now fans and heaters, for example. “In our vehicles, the engine is on the rear axle,” says Greune. He points to a plain black cover in the trunk. Underneath is a comparatively small unit – about the size of a sports bag.

So far mainly the location for the production of the VW Passat, in a few years pure electrical work: the factory in Emden. Image: picture alliance / Jochen Tack

The VW plant in Emden is already the size of an entire district. It is now being expanded again towards the Ems. For this purpose, foundation piles had to be driven 30 meters deep into the muddy subsoil. The largest hall has 45,000 square meters. A total of six new halls and logistics buildings will be added. The expansion will cost one billion euros. “The renovation is the most massive that the site has ever gone through,” says plant manager Uwe Schwartz. “We are massively involved in all structures. We are creating more than 100,000 square meters of new space.” Schwartz was brought in specially for the renovation. Before he headed the planning staff at the main plant in Wolfsburg, now he can implement the ideas developed there on site.

Simpler technology, fewer jobs

Volkswagen relies entirely on electric drives. The conversion should be a clear commitment to electric drive – even if experts can imagine other drive types in the future, for example in combination with synthetic fuels. For a transitional phase of three years, VW wants to build cars with internal combustion engines in Emden at the same time.

“Emden is the first location in Lower Saxony that will then be completely converted to vehicles with electric drives,” says Schwartz. Up to now, the “Passat” models in particular have rolled off the production line at the plant. Electric vehicles, however, have a much simpler drive than petrol and diesel. Most of them not only have more complex engines, but also finely graduated gears and gearshifts. All of that is missing in an electric car. As a result, manufacturers actually need fewer employees to build them.

Fewer employees needed to build e-cars

The works council in Emden sees the problem and expects the loss of some jobs. However, new employees are also needed elsewhere, says Works Council Chairman Manfred Wulff. For example in digitization. “We still need bodies that have to be pressed and painted, so we won’t lose a lot of work. The fact that we no longer have the classic engine will be eliminated.”

Experts predict that in the worst case scenario, it could hit a third of those employed in vehicle construction during the transformation phase. But they see it differently in the works council in Emden. There they even wished to switch over to electric car construction as quickly as possible. After all, the sales figures for the classic VW models have not developed positively. The alternative would have been to build more models with internal combustion engines at the Emden location in order to utilize the capacities. Then it would be better to have a clear future perspective, according to the works council. This is how Andreas Buse sees it, who is now back on the production line and wiring the engine compartment of the Passat and Arteon models. “Sure, there will be restructuring, but I’m not afraid of it.” Many of his colleagues will probably go into partial retirement in the course of the restructuring. However, he is only 32 years old. And he is also looking forward to the changes. Even if he will miss the Passat, as he admits when asked

Receivables from the tax office Many short-time workers have to pay taxes

Status: 14.06.2021 2:49 p.m.

The short-time work allowance saved many jobs. But many recipients are now realizing that the tax office is demanding an additional tax payment: an additional burden for an already lower income. From Iris Sayram, rbb It is now the third amendment to the short-time work regulation that is going through parliament this week. “With short-time working we secure millions of jobs through the crisis and get the German economy important skilled workers for a quick start now in the summer”, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) repeated only recently. This statement is not disputed; but after more than a year of short-time work, there are also side effects.

Short-time work requires a tax return

These are particularly noticeable now, as those receiving the benefits have to submit their tax returns for the 2020 pandemic year. Everyone who has “applied for more than 410 euros in the calendar year” has to make the declaration, according to the website of the Federal Employment Agency (BA). The calculation that as an employee subject to wage tax you usually get something back does not always apply here. Some even have to pay back large sums of money to the tax office. “This mainly affects the recipients who were not sent 100 percent on short-time work, but only partially,” says the managing director of the Federal Association of Wage Tax Aid Associations, Uwe Rauhöft tagesschau.de . The Berlin Left MP Sebastian Schluesselburg knows exactly such a case from his public consultation: A woman from the hotel industry was put on short-time work at the beginning of the pandemic. “Your cash flow is already greatly reduced by the high rent and having a small child,” said Schluesselburg. But she has now been completely “blown away” by the additional tax payment of more than 1000 euros – payable within four weeks.

background 05/19/2021

With the decision comes the tax shock

“This is not an isolated case,” says Uwe Rauhöft from the income tax aid association. “If the regular working hours are reduced to 50 percent and short-time work allowance is granted for the other 50 percent, then the wage tax is sometimes reduced very sharply,” explains the expert. The reduced wage tax will fall disproportionately because of the progressive tax rate. “As a result, however, too little wage tax is paid over the year,” Rauhöft continues. With the income tax return this is now noticeable. Those affected often only noticed this when they received the payment notification. “If you don’t expect it beforehand and don’t know, you now have a problem.” The Federal Employment Agency cannot give precise figures on how many recipients are now confronted with back payments. It is only clear that there are not just a few isolated cases. Several million employees have received short-time allowance since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the latest projections by the BA, it was around 2.6 million in March.

05/05/2021

Experts complain that there is insufficient information

In the FAQ area of ​​the employment agency there is a note in the last sub-item that “short-time allowance as wage replacement benefit is tax-free”. It also states that the service will be taken into account when determining the tax rate. “This can lead to additional tax claims”. This should have been pointed out more clearly, says tax law expert Sandra Inioutis. The tax advisor knows the problem. “It is a highly complicated process and it is not possible to say in general who it affects.” It is all the more necessary to better educate the recipients here. “Perhaps one should have said from an official point that the basically tax-free service is provided with a” but “”, says Inioutis tagesschau.de .

05/22/2021

Little indulgence in repayment

“As if that weren’t bad enough, the tax office is proceeding with full force here,” reports the left-wing politician Schliisselburg. The young family wanted to pay the 1000 euros in two installments, but that would only be possible if all of their own funds were practically exhausted. A credit line must also be used beforehand in order to get a deferral approved. “That is unbelievable. People are being driven into over-indebtedness,” the politician said indignantly. But the law on the possibility of deferral requires that an installment payment is only to be granted in the event of “considerable hardship”. “Unfortunately that is the legal situation. But I would not recommend a deferral either, the interest rate is six percent per year. That will then be even more expensive,” advises expert Rauhöft from the income tax aid association. However, the interest rates for an overdraft facility are likely to be in a similar range or even higher.

The switch to electric vehicles will affect at least 178,000 jobs in the German auto industry. Photo: VNA Ifo’s research presents a number of potential challenges in the future as governments work to phase out diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles in favor of low-emissions, even zero-emission vehicles. waste. In a statement released alongside the report, Ifo said an estimated 75,000 workers in Germany’s car manufacturing sector will retire by the middle of the decade. But if by 2025, the production of cars powered by internal combustion engines falls to levels previously predicted under current emissions regulations, the switch to electric vehicles will affect little. 178,000 jobs in the German auto industry. This group, Ifo explained, would include workers manufacturing product groups directly or indirectly dependent on internal combustion engines, with 137,000 of these working directly in the auto industry. Ifo President Clemens Fuest described the transition to electric vehicles as a major challenge, especially for auto parts suppliers as midsize companies dominate the sector. . He assessed that it is important to maintain skilled jobs in the production of vehicles using internal combustion engines and electric vehicles without changing the industry structure. The report comes after the German federal government announced its ambition to have 7-10 million new registered electric vehicles in the country by the end of the decade. In January 2021, Germany’s road traffic regulator said sales of electric vehicles in Germany will be more than 194,000 units in 2020, a threefold increase from the previous year. Internationally, the European Commission has also expressed its desire to have at least 30 million zero-emissions cars on the road by 2030, as part of its “Smart and Sustainable Transport Strategy.” . According to the International Energy Agency, about 3 million new electric cars were registered last year, a record number and up 41% from 2019.

Increasing automation will destroy up to eight million jobs in Germany in the next five years, predict labor market experts. The prospects are gloomy, but only a few German employees are afraid. As a worldwide survey of 210,000 employees in 190 countries has shown, only 28 percent of German workers and employees fear that computers or robots could take their jobs away from them in the near future. The job portal Stepstone, the international job exchange association The Network and the management consultancy Boston Consulting Group took part in the survey. The other Europeans are just as carefree as the Germans. The French, Dutch and Danes are even more relaxed.

Asians are particularly concerned

Only in the banking and insurance industry is the proportion of employees who fear losing their jobs due to digitization higher. No wonder, given that many work processes in these industries are increasingly automated. “Both industries do not manufacture any physical products,” says BCG labor market expert Rainer Strack, one of the authors of the study. “All they have is people and IT.” But even in these industries, people in Europe are more carefree than in Asia. In the island nation of Singapore, 61 percent of the employees surveyed fear that growing digitalization will threaten their jobs. In China, too, where industry plays a major role, 48 percent of workers fear losing their jobs because of growing automation. In the US it’s 44 percent.

No preparation for change

So are the Germans too naive when it comes to automation? “Yes,” says the BCG specialist Strack. He is convinced that “Covid has catapulted us into the digital future for ten years.” After the factories, more and more office workers have to be prepared for the fact that they will lose their jobs through the use of computers. Nevertheless, according to the authors of the study, no one really prepares employees in Germany for the changes. “One example would be the truck driver who will become obsolete at some point,” says Strack. “Actually, I should tell the truck driver 50 new jobs for which he can qualify. But today the truck driver doesn’t even know that.” After all, in the survey, a good half of German employees (55 percent) say they are ready to retrain. That is less than the global average of 68 percent, but more than the proportion of Americans. Just under half of them can imagine learning a new profession.

The shortage of skilled workers reassured

It is quite possible that the Germans are so relaxed about the possible dangers of automation for another reason: the high demand for skilled workers. “In the next ten years five million people will leave the job market. This will be a trend reversal for the first time, but it is also a huge opportunity for many,” says Stepstone managing director Sebastian Dettmers, who contributed to the study. Meanwhile, despite the Corona crisis, many German companies are optimistic about the future, as a survey of a good 2,800 companies by the Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) has shown. According to this, a third of them want to invest more this year than in 2020, and almost 30 percent want to create jobs. Around 40 percent of the companies surveyed plan to produce more than in the previous year, only 24 percent less. “In the here and now, companies continue to struggle with the various restrictions,” says IW economic expert Michael Grömling. “However, the ongoing vaccinations ensure that companies are largely optimistic about the second half of the year.”

BA speaks of a noticeable recovery

Indeed, the recovery in industry should also stimulate the labor market. In April, the employment barometer collected by the Munich Ifo Institute reached 98.3 points, the highest value since the beginning of 2020. Your colleagues from the Nuremberg IAB even measured the highest level since May 2019 in their labor market barometer published on Tuesday. The Federal Employment Agency (BA) also speaks of a “noticeably revived” demand for workers in April. According to the authority, new jobs have been created in almost all industries. The job index of the employment agency (BA-X) rose by two to 104 points – it had already increased by four points in March. The construction, manufacturing and information and communication industries developed particularly positively. In contrast, the areas that are particularly affected by the lockdown currently want to hire significantly fewer people, such as the hospitality industry.

According to the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Planning and Investment), the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 and the first months of 2021 has pushed many workers into jobless status, at the same time forcing many people to become workers. have informal jobs.

In the first quarter of 2021, employed workers in urban areas increased by 114,300 people compared to the fourth quarter of 2020; down 90,200 people over the same period last year. In rural areas, the number of employed people increased by 508,900 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 and decreased by 854,300 people over the same period last year. The proportion of labor force in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector is 31.6% (corresponding to more than 17.05 million people); 31.7% of industry and construction sector (corresponding to 17.09 million people); 36.7% service sector (corresponding to 19.81 million people). Up to now, the number of employees aged 15 and over who are working is 53.4 million people, down 1.3 million; in which, the number of workers with informal jobs is 20.9 million, an increase of 233,000 people compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

Workers working in production lines at factories were negatively affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo: VNA.

Statistics show that the epidemic has caused the rate of workers with informal jobs to rise sharply in the first quarter of 2021, in contrast to the trend of decreasing this rate in recent years; businesses are forced to support with many measures, including measures to reduce labor (cut, take turns, etc.), to recruit seasonal workers, temporary workers to maintain operations. This leads to a decrease in the number of formal employees and an increase in the number of informal workers, leading to a rebound in the proportion of workers with informal employment after many years of continuous decline.

The COVID-19 epidemic also significantly increases the number of underemployed workers in economic sectors. The underemployment rate of workers in the age group is 2.51%, of which the underemployment rate in urban areas is 1.68%; Underemployment rate in rural areas is 2.93%. More than half of the underemployed people are currently working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, accounting for 53.7%, down 15.6 percentage points over the same period last year; the industry and construction sector accounted for 20.2%, up 10.7 percentage points; the service sector accounted for 26.1%, up 4.9 percentage points. Thus, the current underemployment is not only concentrated in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, but is increasing in industry, construction and services.

For workers in the age group, the professional and technical qualifications are higher, the underemployment rate will be lower. The underemployment rate in the age group 2020 of workers without professional and technical qualifications is 2.87%; primary level is 2.25%; intermediate level is 1.58%; college is 1.52%; from university and above is 1.04%. Average monthly income of employees increased compared to the previous quarter, but still decreased compared to the same period last year. Average monthly income from employees’ work in the first quarter of 2021 reached 5.7 million dong, up 212,000 dong. VND compared with the previous quarter and decreased 108,000 VND against the same period last year.

Worryingly, the number of unemployed people in working age quarter I / 2021 was nearly 1.2 million, down 60,100 from the previous quarter and 136,800 people over the same period last year. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the unemployment rate of working age urban areas the highest increase compared to the same period in the past 10 years.

Although it increased higher than the previous year, the unemployment rate in urban areas did not exceed 4%, meeting the target set by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 85/2019 / QH-14 on the Development Plan. Socio-economic development in 2021. This, together with the GDP growth and other macro-balance indicators, can be seen as important evidence of the success of the Government in its efforts to achieve the dual goal. : disease prevention and socio-economic development.

Remove 3 “bottlenecks”

Leaders of the General Statistics Office said that, in the context of COVID-19 increasing the rate of unemployed workers, it is necessary to focus on removing 3 “bottlenecks” to actively respond and adapt to new developments. epidemic situation, both controlling the epidemic and promoting production and business.

Specifically, the ministries, branches and localities need to create conditions to continue solving difficulties for production enterprises. In which, focusing on reforming processes and procedures so that businesses can access simple, convenient and timely supporting policies to stimulate the economy as well as the demand for labor. These measures not only help businesses and employees escape the risk of bankruptcy, job loss and income reduction, but also create a driving force for production and business development.

On the other hand, localities actively implement specific support packages, diversify forms of subsidies, expand vocational training programs to suit many subjects, especially female workers and workers. Labor without technical and professional qualifications, informal labor to stabilize social security, motivate workers to work, contribute to economic recovery and development.

The most important bottleneck now, according to the leaders of the General Statistics Office, is to focus on retraining human resources, because the Vietnamese labor market has about 75% of the employees without any technical or professional training. This is a major limitation of the Vietnamese economy in the context of the epidemic still having new developments and the 4th industrial revolution taking place around the world. The low quality of the labor force will be a barrier separating opportunities to adapt and catch up with new technology trends and new business methods of the world. Therefore, in the coming time, Vietnam needs to actively renew and implement training and retraining policies to improve the quality of human resources to adapt to the requirements of economic growth and development.

Rural workers in Hanoi who participate in agricultural production still account for a large proportion

One of the specific targets that the Hanoi People’s Committee sets from now to the end of 2021 is to complete the policy to support the development of rural industries within its competence, according to the provisions of Decree No. 52/2018 / ND- CP dated April 12, 2018 by the Government. For example: Vocational training, vocational transmission; trade promotion, construction of infrastructure and production space …

The city also aims to support 10 trade villages in branding and registration to establish collective trademark ownership. Support for environmental impact assessment for 10 craft villages; Support 5 – 10 rural career development projects in the city. In particular, strive to create 10,000-15,000 more jobs for rural workers.

To accomplish the above objectives, while building mechanisms and implementing policies, the People’s Committee of Hanoi will promote the application of science and technology. In particular, implementing city-level science and technology tasks in the field of career development, craft villages; projects on management and development of collective trademarks for agricultural products and craft village products under the intellectual property development support program.

Manage production technologies, restrict the use of old and outdated technologies, causing environmental pollution. To introduce and disseminate environmentally friendly production technologies, wastewater, waste and exhaust treatment technologies suitable to craft villages and rural industries in the locality.

The People’s Committee of Hanoi City will also direct the organization of training in pedagogical skills and teaching skills for artisans in rural industries according to regulations. To train and disseminate policies to encourage the development of rural industries for owners of production establishments and laborers to have access to resources and policies to support the development of rural industries.

Propaganda, promotion and trade promotion. Provide information support for enterprises, rural industry establishments to participate in domestic and foreign exhibitions and fairs to introduce and promote their brands and products, and to expand consumption markets. In addition to capital support and tax policy dissemination, the Hanoi People’s Committee has a policy of directing local departments to focus on land allocation, land lease and environmental protection of craft villages. Towards the development and conservation of craft villages associated with tourism, education experiences …