Tarifsozialpolitik – zwischen Tarifautonomie und sozialpolitischem Auftrag

The article deals with collective agreements on welfare provision for employees. It provides an overview of the topic and presents two short examples dealing with short-time work and occupational pensions. Both policy fields were recently subject to new legislation but also witnessed new or amended collective agreements. These serve to illustrate the division of labour between state legislation and the efforts of trade unions and employers’ associations. The author argues that the German system of welfare provision through collective agreements faces problems, as legislation enables and fosters activities of social partners, but does not enforce such activities. Given that the return of activities for employers’ associations and trade unions is minimal or unclear, the system of welfare provision through collective agreements is signified by low coverage and high selectivity.