VNR 2025 Contribution by Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB)

The impacts of the many crises are still omnipresent. The economy is stagnating, the investment backlog for a future-proof country is growing and geopolitical conflicts are on the rise. At the same time, the challenges of transformation processes are greater than ever, increasingly straining public acceptance of change.

Against this backdrop, promoting social participation, social cohesion, gender equality and international solidarity is more important than ever. Reliable and sustainable prospects for the future are needed, along with a proactive, forward-looking policy that creates new opportunities before value chains are irreversibly disrupted. Strengthening industrial value creation is just as crucial as upgrading and expanding quality service-sector jobs and ensuring gender-equitable organisation of unpaid care and household work.

As trade unions, we advocate globally for the fair distribution of prosperity, ensuring Decent Work within planetary boundaries while upholding human and labour rights. We support the German government in implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Our core concern is to secure decent working conditions, fair wages and work-place democracy through social partnership, co-determination, and collective agreements. Co-determination structures enhance the sustainability of corporate policies, ensure a fair balance of interests within companies and provide security in times of change. SDG 8 is thus a key starting point for achieving many other Sustainable Development Goals.