Germany: Coalition partners agree health and pension reforms

Late 2006 is likely to see a number of social policy reforms as the Social Democrat and Christian Democrat partners in the national "grand coalition" government move towards agreement on a number of dossiers brought forward for action following the 2005 federal election (Germany: New government sets out policies to create employment).

The key areas are health, pensions, the regulation of the "low-pay sector" (EIRR 386 p.25) and co-determination.