Job opportunities for older employees should be improved and advancements within companies encouraged. This agreement was reached by the commission for labor issues, meeting for the first time in eight months. A federal statement calls for a reversal of early forced retirements for older employees as well as the introduction of a job rotation program, connecting employee carreer advancements with occupational training for the unemployed. Aside from creating jobs and providing better education the commission also addressed overtime reduction and the reform of corporate bylaws.
Coalition debates over duration of eco-tax Berlin.
In an interview on public television Chancellor Schroeder rejected the demand by Green Party leader Mr. Kuhn to keep the eco-tax longer and expand it. The Chancellor said the Government had introduced the most far-reaching tax cuts in German history. This should not be countered with unnecessary debate. Mr. Kuhn had spoken out in favor of keeping the eco-tax beyond the year 2003 as well as eliminating exemptions for certain economic branches. Environmental Minister Juergen Trittin also spokle in favor of keeping the tax.