To ease the financial strain that has affected many workers after the sharp rise in fuel prices, the employee wings of the CDU and CSU have put forward a “Mobility Package for the Working Population”.
Dennis Radtke, president of the Christian‑Democratic Employees’ Union, and Volker Ullrich, head of the Christian‑Social Employees’ Union, told the Thursday issue of “Tagesspiegel” that they want to relieve business travel conducted in private cars and introduce a tax‑free mobility allowance as a tariff tool.
The pair welcomed the decision that, regardless of the Iran conflict, the commuter allowance was increased to 38 cents per kilometre effective at the start of the year. They argue that the same principle should apply to employees who use their own vehicles for business trips. Roughly 27 % of such trips are made in a private car, yet employees can only claim a tax‑free reimbursement of 30 cents per kilometre.
The employee wings outline two ways to move to the 38‑cent level. One option is to amend the Federal Travel Cost Act, which the income‑tax framework follows; the other is to reference the higher commuter allowance within that Act. Radtke and Ullrich say this would be both logically systematic and equitably fair, ensuring that those who drive their own cars for work receive a reimbursement that reflects the real cost of using the vehicle.
For commuters who incur high travel expenses, the duo also propose a further measure: a tax‑free mobility allowance created through collective bargaining where it is feasible. This allowance would be targeted at employees with significant commuting costs, administered straightforwardly via employers, and would be as practical as the COVID‑specific bonuses. They argue that such a tool would strengthen tariff autonomy, deliver solutions that match real business needs, and guarantee that relief reaches those with the highest travel costs.
