Undergoing instructional processes, honing skills, or acquiring new competencies. - Several Azubis are putting in extra hours of work.
A majority of the around 1.2 million apprentices often put in extra hours, with some even working over 20 hours weekly, as per a survey by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). Conducting surveys on over 10,000 apprentices from the 25 most common trades, the annual report revealed.
The report revealed that an overwhelming majority (nearly 70%) of the apprentices were content with their training. However, there were significant disparities between the trades. The survey also highlighted an increasing number of apprentices reporting work not related to their training.
Over 6 extra hours of work per week for future chefs
A third of the apprentices (34.5%) regularly worked more hours - a significant increase from previous years, according to the DGB. Apprentices aspiring to be chefs put in an average of 6.1 extra hours per week, closely followed by hotel apprentices (5.6 hours). The average for all trades was around 3.6 extra hours per week. A few apprentices even reported regularly putting in over 20 extra hours per week. Nearly one in ten did not receive any compensation or time off for overtime. The DGB condemned this as a clear breach of the Vocational Training Act.
Significant wage differences
On average, apprentices reported earning 965 euros per month across all training years, with 1,035 euros in the third year of training. However, there were discrepancies: future bank clerks (1,243 euros), industrial mechanics (1,174 euros), or tax clerks (1,163 euros) earned significantly more in the third year of training than, for instance, hairdressing apprentices (830 euros).
The report noted a positive trend, with an increase at the lower end of the wage scale compared to the previous year. "This could imply that the minimum training wage introduced in 2020 is having an impact," the report suggested. This was also indicated by the narrowing wage gaps between the trades in recent years. The minimum training wage serves as a minimum wage for apprentices and is adjusted annually to the average development of all training wages.
Trade satisfaction varies by profession
The satisfaction of apprentices with their training depends heavily on their chosen trade. 82% of future industrial mechanics reported being satisfied or very satisfied, followed by industrial and bank clerks (80 and 79%), and mechatronics engineers (78%). At the bottom of the scale are future warehouse logistics specialists (61%), hotel specialists (60%), and dental medical assistants, of whom only 59% reported being satisfied with their training.
Doing the dishes and cleaning
The DGB criticized the fact that more than one in six respondents (15.3%) reported having to do things not related to their trade regularly or often. This was a record high. Examples included "doing the dishes" or "cleaning in the company." 56% were sometimes or rarely, and only 29% never, asked to do such "trade-unrelated tasks." These were not part of the trade, the DGB stated. "If they continue to occur and central trade contents are not conveyed as a result, they even endanger the successful completion of the training for young people."
Despite the concerns about overworking and unequal compensation, the report also noted a rise in satisfaction among apprentices in certain trades in Germany. For instance, future industrial mechanics showed a high level of satisfaction, with 82% reporting being satisfied or very satisfied with their training.
Additionally, there were significant wage disparities among different trades in Germany. For instance, future bank clerks reported earning 1,243 euros in the third year of training, significantly more than hairdressing apprentices, who earned only 830 euros.
