Berlin's 'Apprenticeship Levy' Sparks Debate Over Training Place Boost
Berlin's plan to introduce a training surcharge, dubbed the 'apprenticeship levy', has sparked controversy. The Bremen State Court of Justice recently ruled the local version constitutional, but Berlin's economy remains opposed. The law aims to boost training places, but its effectiveness is debated.
The principle behind the surcharge is a fund into which all companies pay, with those training receiving money back. This could see companies with many trainees benefiting more than they paid in. Berlin's coalition agreement plans to introduce the law after 2023, with the second reading in 2026 and implementation by 2028, if additional training places aren't created by 2025.
Critics, including Berlin's Industry and Commerce Chamber (IHK) and business associations, argue the surcharge could harm companies, especially in economically challenging times. They cite the state-owned BVG's calculation of a yearly loss of €660,000, despite training 483 people. However, the labor administration predicts a yearly surplus of €800,000 to €900,000 for the BVG. The effectiveness of the surcharge in increasing training places remains unproven.
Ruling mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and MP Pätzold have expressed concerns about the surcharge's impact and hinted at possible changes during the parliamentary procedure, such as adjusting the fee height and de minimis threshold.
As of October 2025, no specific company or industry in Berlin has filed a lawsuit against the apprenticeship levy, but the debate is ongoing. The law's constitutionality and effectiveness are still being scrutinized, with the second reading and voting planned for the first quarter of 2026. If additional training places aren't created by 2025, the law is set to come into force in 2028, but delays due to constitutional compatibility doubts are possible.
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