The German Bundestag moved the contested “Tariftreuegesetz” (tariff fidelity law) into force. It was adopted on Thursday with votes from the Union, SPD and Greens. The AfD opposed the measure, while the Left party chose to abstain.
The bill aims to strengthen tariff autonomy by guaranteeing that public procurement by the federal government follows existing collective bargaining agreements. It applies to public tenders in the construction and services sectors, with the sole exceptions of defense‑ or security‑specific contracts. Delivery orders were entirely omitted from the final text.
Business groups have reacted sharply against the regulation. The Federation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) complained that it would create new bureaucracy and represent a dangerous intrusion into tariff autonomy. The employers’ association Gesamtmetall called the law “utterly impractical”. In turn, the Left party criticized the exemption clauses as overly lenient.
