SPD on work and social affairs

The SPD wants a Hamburg rule under which important public contracts go only to companies with collective bargaining agreements. It also plans a campaign for good work and fair rules for platform work.

The city awards contracts to companies. The SPD wants important contracts to go only to firms with a union wage agreement. Such an agreement sets pay and hours. This should mean fair pay for workers.

The SPD justifies a state-level rule by noting that a federal procurement law did not come about. The DGB union federation's Good Work Index is to be surveyed for Hamburg as well. For the platform economy and crowdworking, the SPD wants to push in Hamburg and nationally for simple rules on occupational safety and pay. The “Haus für Gesundheit und Arbeit,” which advises people with mental and chronic illnesses, is to be made permanent and expanded.

The SPD wants to keep pursuing undeclared work, exploitation of workers and social insurance fraud. It calls for enough customs staff and regular joint inspections with city agencies.

Some companies have people work off the books or exploit them. The SPD wants to keep fighting this. Customs should have enough staff. The city should often inspect together with customs.

The SPD demands that the federal government adequately staff the responsible customs offices. City agencies such as the district housing protection units and the Jobcenter are to hold regular joint action days with customs. The aim is to uncover precarious structures, exploitation and social insurance fraud.

The SPD wants to expand job-related training close to the labor market and draw up a Hamburg continuing education strategy. A transformation council and a professorship in work science are to accompany changes in the world of work.

Work is changing. People often need to learn new things. The SPD wants more training and retraining options. It wants to make a plan for Hamburg for this.

Retraining, partial qualifications and a second apprenticeship during working life are pillars of the skilled labor strategy, as is on-the-job training. At the federal level, the SPD wants BAföG (student aid), unemployment benefits and Bürgergeld (citizen's income) to better support people in training. An information campaign is to make the Qualifizierungschancengesetz (skills opportunities act) better known among works councils and companies. The transformation council is to bring together unions, chambers, business associations and employment agencies.

The SPD wants the Jugendberufsagentur (youth employment agency) to support young people up to age 28 instead of only 25. It plans an initiative in the Bundesrat for this. Services for young people with disabilities are also to be bundled there.

The youth employment agency helps young people start a career. So far this applies up to age 25. The SPD wants to raise the limit to 28. Young people with disabilities should also find help there.

The Jugendberufsagentur advises on starting a career and places people in jobs, apprenticeships and training. The higher age limit requires a change in the law, to be initiated through the Bundesrat. More mobile counseling is meant to make the services more visible. The “Catch Up” program for young people with mental illness is to continue.

The SPD wants to continue subsidized employment for the long-term unemployed in the regular labor market and bundle labor market support in a joint program. Single parents, parents and women active as volunteers are to receive targeted training.

Some people have been out of work for a very long time. The SPD wants to offer them subsidized jobs in companies. Single parents should also get special help. There should be courses in reading, writing and German.

The employment agency, the Jobcenter and the labor authority are to combine their efforts in a joint labor market program. A good supply of literacy courses, basic language courses and basic training is planned. Easy-access programs for parents, especially mothers, that combine language, training and integration are to grow. Women long active in Stadtteilmütter (neighborhood mothers) or neighborhood initiatives are to reach regular employment through a dedicated training offer, for example as daycare assistants.

The SPD wants to further improve employment conditions at universities and strengthen mid-level academic staff. At the federal level it advocates a collective agreement for student employees.

People who work at universities should have better conditions. There should be new jobs for lecturers. They mainly teach. Students with a job at the university should get a union wage agreement.

The higher education law is to allow lecturer positions that focus on teaching but also include independent scholarly or artistic work. The Code of Conduct process and the working group on employment conditions will continue to be supported. The goal is stronger mid-level staff and better conditions in teaching.

The SPD wants to create more housing for people without a home or in precarious housing and expand support based on the "Housing First" approach. Prevention, debt counseling and street social work are to be strengthened.

Some people have no home. The SPD wants to build more housing for them. They should get a home first and then further help. Every district should offer debt counseling.

The city-owned social enterprise Fördern & Wohnen is to become a housing provider for special target groups. This is also meant to ease refugees' path into their own home, work and integration. The offices for housing emergencies are to be strengthened and debt counseling secured in all districts. Shelters for people with addictions and homeless people are to offer hygiene, safety and counseling. The SPD wants to develop street social work and addiction services further; city funding is to be judged by whether it effectively helps those affected.

The SPD wants to remove barriers in buildings, in language and in the city's digital services, and to involve people with disabilities in decisions. Workers in sheltered workshops are to receive wages and basic income support from a single source.

People with disabilities should be able to take part everywhere. The SPD wants to remove barriers in buildings and online. There should be more texts in easy language. Workers in sheltered workshops should get their money more easily. Moving to other jobs should become easier.

Large new construction and renovation projects are to include more accessible apartments. A participation center bundles all benefits for people with disabilities; the "Verfahrenslotsen" guides for children, young people and their families will continue and grow. Repeated asset checks for workshop employees, which the SPD considers unnecessary, are to be dropped, and the path into the regular labor market is to stay open. Vocational training offers for young people with disabilities are to be brought together at the youth employment agency. The state action plan on the UN disability rights convention will be developed further, and the disability equality law will be reviewed for needed changes.

The SPD wants to create a senior station or senior center in every district to bundle advice services. A discounted Deutschlandticket for older people and alternative forms of housing are meant to support independent living in old age.

Older people should be able to live well in Hamburg. Every district should get a center for seniors. It offers advice in one place. The Deutschlandticket should be cheaper for seniors. Older people should be able to live at home for a long time.

The discounted Deutschlandticket (nationwide transit pass) for seniors is to be introduced step by step. The SPD wants to fund guides who help with everyday life, as well as assisted living and multigenerational houses. The "Hamburger Hausbesuch" home visit on a person's 80th birthday will continue. Volunteer work by older people is to be supported with information, networking and advice.