Human Resources committee  We do want to increase mobility in vocational training, and that's why we have a European-level process that is aimed at making sure that professional degrees are also comparable. ECVET is the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training. We are in the process of

Human Resources committee  In Europe we have a very permeable system, but even on a worldwide basis, there's a lot of interest in coming to work in Germany. That's why a new law was instituted last year. It's a new law on recognition of international exams to make sure there's a basis to evaluate whether s

Human Resources committee  In the European Union we have free movement of workers, so if a young person from Spain wants to come to Germany to start training, he can do that. He can use what is available in Germany just as well as any German would.

Human Resources committee  Yes, I would like to add that it's not only a problem of the number of apprenticeship spots that are available, but it's also the demographic development in Germany. We have fewer and fewer young people obtaining their school leaving degree. That's why it is important to keep app

Human Resources committee  Everybody chooses the profession they would like to choose. It could be a carpenter, or it could be a hairdresser. You might have male or female apprentices. Some professions are more of a female profession, and others are more of a male profession. That's the same for the vocati

Human Resources committee  If there are problems, if they have to take an apprenticeship in another town, the federal office gives a certain subsidy to pay for the additional rent they have to pay.

Human Resources committee  Basically, it's in industry's best interest to offer training spots, to make sure they have skilled labour. In difficult economic times, of course, we have to have certain agreements between the government and the employers' associations. They sign a training pact to make sure we