Public hearing of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment on the amendment of the fixed-term employment law for academics
On November 11, 2024, the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment convened a public hearing on the amendment of the fixed-term employment law for academics. The hearing was held in response to growing concerns about the precarious employment conditions of academic staff in Germany.
Background
The current fixed-term employment law for academics (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG) was introduced in 1998. The law allows universities to employ academic staff on fixed-term contracts for a maximum of six years. After this period, the contracts can only be renewed once for a maximum of three years. This means that many academic staff are forced to leave their positions after nine years, even if they have not yet completed their habilitation or professorship.
The precarious employment conditions of academic staff have a number of negative consequences. First, they make it difficult for academic staff to plan their careers and families. Second, they create a climate of insecurity and competition among academic staff. Third, they drive down wages and working conditions for all academic staff.
The proposed amendment
The proposed amendment to the WissZeitVG would extend the maximum duration of fixed-term contracts for academic staff from six to eight years. It would also allow for the renewal of contracts twice, instead of once. This would give academic staff more time to complete their habilitation or professorship and would help to improve their career prospects.
The hearing
The public hearing on the proposed amendment was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from universities, research institutions, trade unions, and student organizations. The majority of the speakers supported the proposed amendment, arguing that it would improve the employment conditions of academic staff and make German universities more competitive on the international stage.
However, there were also some concerns raised about the proposed amendment. Some speakers argued that it would lead to an increase in the number of permanent positions in academia, which could crowd out early-career researchers. Others argued that the amendment would not do enough to address the root causes of the precarious employment conditions of academic staff.
Next steps
The Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment will now consider the testimony from the public hearing and make a recommendation to the Bundestag on whether or not to amend the WissZeitVG. The Bundestag is expected to vote on the amendment in early 2025.
Conclusion
The amendment to the WissZeitVG is a welcome step towards improving the employment conditions of academic staff in Germany. However, it is important to note that the amendment is only one part of a larger solution to the problem of precarious employment in academia. In order to truly address the root causes of this problem, we need to invest in more permanent positions, provide better support for early-career researchers, and change the way we think about academic careers.
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