Germany cabinet approves Job-to-Job trial to let workers test new roles while keeping benefits
Germany’s cabinet has approved a Job-to-Job trial that lets employees try new positions without resigning, aiming to ease transitions amid layoffs.
The cabinet on Tuesday gave provisional approval to a draft law from Labour Minister Bärbel Bas that would introduce a Job-to-Job trial for workers facing sectoral shifts. The proposal is designed to allow employees to test potential new jobs for a short period while retaining entitlement to unemployment benefits, officials said. The measure is part of a broader SGB III amendment package intended to reduce bureaucracy and speed labor-market transitions.
Cabinet backing and ministerial rationale
The draft law reached the federal cabinet after being put forward by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs under SPD minister Bärbel Bas. Bas argued the change is necessary so that skilled workers can move quickly into sectors with demand when firms must downsize. The cabinet framed the measure as a targeted response to persistent job cuts in parts of the German economy and a way to prevent long spells of unemployment.
Mechanics of the Job-to-Job trial
Under the proposal, formally called measures to test an employment perspective, employees would be permitted to undertake a trial period with a prospective new employer for up to four weeks, extendable to six weeks in exceptional cases. During that time the worker would not be required to have resigned from their current job or to have formally accepted a new employment contract before the trial. The aim is to enable employers and potential hires to assess fit and training needs without forcing a hard decision that would risk immediate loss of income.
Digital contact and changes to benefits communication
The bill also modernizes how the Federal Employment Agency communicates with benefit recipients by shifting to digital-first contact as the default. Recipients of unemployment benefits would no longer be required to be physically present to receive postal notices; agencies are expected to rely on electronic channels and to offer video consultations. The draft makes clear that paper-based procedures remain available on request, while promoting a move toward online applications and digital case management.
Business relief measures and safety-officer thresholds
As part of a package billed as an administrative relief for employers, the bill raises thresholds that determine when companies must appoint workplace safety officers. The ministry projects that the relief measures could cut bureaucracy costs by more than €720 million annually. Officials say the change aims to reduce administrative burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises facing tight budgets.
The threshold adjustment has sparked concern from labour groups, with critics warning that it could eliminate up to 123,000 safety officer posts in smaller firms. Trade union Verdi framed the planned changes as a potential weakening of workplace protections, arguing that fewer appointed safety representatives may erode on-site oversight and preventive measures.
Political responses and concerns about wider economic change
Responses in Parliament and among stakeholders were mixed. Greens labour expert Sylvia Rietenberg welcomed elements of the reform but cautioned that it leaves open how workers will be supported through technological change, decarbonization and automation. Employers and some business associations praised the planned cuts to administrative costs, saying they would free resources for investment and hiring.
Unions signalled they will press for safeguards and complementary measures, including stronger training and retraining guarantees tied to trials. Opposition voices also urged clarity on how the trial scheme will interact with collective agreements and existing protections against dismissal during transition periods.
Timetable for the SGB III amendment and next steps
The government intends to advance the SGB III amendment through the legislative process with a goal of completing consideration by the end of November, according to ministry documents accompanying the draft. The draft foresees “digital first” application channels, expanded video access at employment agencies and preserved access to paper procedures for those who need them. Detailed rules, including eligibility criteria, employer obligations and funding for transition supports, will be negotiated as the bill moves through committee stages.
The success of the Job-to-Job trial will depend on timely passage of the amendment and on how agencies and employers implement the new procedures. Careful drafting will be required to balance rapid labour-market mobility with protections for health and safety, training rights and collective bargaining.
As firms and workers confront structural change across sectors, the Job-to-Job trial aims to lower the barrier to testing new employment options while preserving income support, but its impact will hinge on accompanying training, clear safeguards and effective enforcement.
