Sunday, March 9th 2008 at around 5.p.m.: the workshop:fair lasted already four days and still visitors wanted to spend more time on the exhibition site. This year’s edition was realised with more exhibitors, more space and a record attendance of more than 12.000 visitors. Compared to former editions the third fair in Nuremberg attracted around 26 % more visitors. “It seems, that the workshop:fair since this year has very successfully been established in Nuremberg" said one responsible of the fair company ‘NürnbergMesse’.

The professional integration of persons with disabilities is a major goal of social policy. Persons who cannot be employed on the open labour market because of their disability, have the opportunity to participate in working life in workshops for adapted work. [more]

On 7 February 2008, the Federal Association of Workshop Councils (Bundesvereinigung der Werkstatträte, BVWR) was founded in Berlin. [more]

The 23rd workshops fair “Werkstätten:Messe 2008” will be held in Nuremberg from 6th to 9th March. In Hall 9 (CCN Mitte), over 200 exhibitors have already registered to present products and services of German workshops. Institutions and organisations from several European countries are equally present. As this year’s special guest country, Austria takes a prominent position on the fair. In addition, Switzerland, France, Poland and Hungary are represented as well. Registration is still possible. [more]

After the stagnation in 2005, payment in German workshops slightly increased in 2006. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs indicates an increase in average monthly payment by 2.01 Euros from 154.69 Euros to 156.70 Euros. This is an increase of 1.3 percent compared to the previous year. [more]

Since last year, the Equal Rights Act (German: Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) has come into force in Germany. As it seems, hardly anyone is really satisfied with the AGG. From the employers’ point of view, it goes too far, whereas the persons concerned consider it to be too weak. In addition, there is still uncertainty about whether the law also applies to workshops for adapted work, as they usually include specialised staff as well as employees with disabilities. To the extent that workshops acts as employers, the law certainly has an impact on them and on other integration projects. [more]

In 2008, the European Commission will launch its new Social Agenda. It will focus mainly on three topics: the first one is Europe’s social reality. Based on today’s society, visions of the future will be developed. [more]

The chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the European Parliament, Bernhard Rapkay, has signalled his willingness to cooperate with BAG WfbM. In the context of the recently published European Commission Communication on Services, he explicitly mentioned the issue of workshops for adapted work. [more]

The official signing of the Lisbon treaty leads the way to a more social Europe. Social rights have been codified at a very prominent place. The development from an originally economic union towards a value based community is on the way. [more]

The ministers and senators of labour and social affairs of the sixteen federal states in Germany met for their annual ministerial conference in Berlin in November. The aim of the meeting is to achieve a better understanding and mutual cooperation between the Federal states in the area of labour and social policies. [more]

Bernd Conrad, Detmold, was elected new deputy chairman of the Federal Association of workshops for adapted work (BAG: WfbM). The delegate conference in Leipzig chose Conrad as successor to Rainer Knapp, Sindelfingen, who left due to personal reasons. [more]

The new Unemployment Figures for November 2007 have been released. Compared with October 2007, the nationwide unemployment rate has decreased by 1.6 percent to 3,38 million persons. The number of unemployed disabled people dropped from 161,315 to 157,520, a decrease of 2.4 percent. [more]

The UN Convention Concerning Rights of Disabled Persons was adopted today by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 13th, 2006. In an attempt to get the German government to ratify this convention as soon as possible, the German social project “Die Gesellschafter” started a petition in May 2007. [more]

On Thursday, 29 November 2007, Olaf Scholz has been appointed as Germany’s new Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. He succeeds Franz Müntefering, who resigned for personal reasons. Together with Franz Müntefering, the Parliamentary State Secretary Gerd Andres has left the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. His successor is Klaus Brandner.

The European Commission presented a package of initiatives to modernise the European single market. Building on past success, it is designed to bring more benefits to Europeans citizens. The single market has already helped to create competitive companies, to reduce prices, to provide more choice for consumers and to make Europe more attractive for investors. [more]