DGB wants to commit large companies to building factory housing
To combat housing shortages, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) wants to oblige companies to build so-called company housing. Specifically, the DGB is demanding employee accommodations from large companies that are settling in a region or city, as reported by the Funke Media Group, citing a position paper from the DGB. According to this, municipalities should impose conditions for the construction of employee housing when granting building plots.
"Given the steadily rising rents and the scarcity of affordable housing, it is becoming increasingly difficult for employees to find accommodation near their workplace," said DGB board member Stefan Körzell to the Funke newspapers. A mandatory new construction of company housing at favorable rental conditions for employees would relieve the local supply situation. At the same time, companies could enhance their attractiveness as employers.
To oblige companies to build employee housing when settling, municipalities should "exhaust the instruments available to them to the fullest extent," it says in the position paper, according to the report. Specifically, the trade union federation mentions the agreement on urban development contracts, the allocation of building plots through concept-based award procedures with conditions for the creation of employee housing, and the allocation of heritable building rights linked to corresponding conditions.
According to this, employees with low and medium incomes are particularly intended to benefit from these proposals. They currently have particular difficulty finding affordable housing.
The DGB suggests that municipalities should utilize all available instruments, such as urban development contracts and concept-based award procedures, to make companies construct employee housing with favorable rental conditions. By implementing these measures, large companies can potentially alleviate housing shortages for their employees, particularly those with low and medium incomes.
