Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Germany (Ratification: 1991)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Article 7 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. The Committee notes that statistics on the economically active population, employment, unemployment and visible underemployment continue to be regularly transmitted to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through ILOSTAT. These data are collected via the EU Labour Force Survey, which is integrated into the Microcensus Act (Mikrozensusgesetz – Act to Carry Out a Representative Statistical Survey of the Population, Labour Market and Household Living Conditions) and based on the ILO methodological framework. The Committee further notes that, following the reorganization of social statistics within the European Statistical System (ESS), the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 and its implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2240 – both aligned with ILO methodological recommendations – have been incorporated into national legislation through the Microcensus Act. Finally, these provisions ensure the application of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization adopted by the 19th ICLS (2013), implemented through the EU Labour Force Survey since 2021. The Committee encourages the Government to maintain the regular communication of these statistics to the ILO Department of Statistics. 

Article 8. Statistics on the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that statistics on the structure and distribution of the economically active population continue to be regularly communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics. It further notes that, since the 2011 census, the Government has introduced a register-based census system, which relies primarily on population registers (local municipal records of residents) and registers of the Federal Employment Agency (employment status). These registers are combined with small sample surveys, such as the Microcensus, to ensure accuracy. The Committee requests the Government to supply up-to-date information on plans for future population censuses, including the related concepts, definitions and methodology. It also invites the Government to provide details on the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics on work relationships adopted at the 20th ICLS (2018), as well as the Resolution on statistics of the informal economy adopted at the 21st ICLS (2023). Finally, the Committee encourages the Government to continue transmitting these statistics regularly to the ILO Department of Statistics.

Article 9. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee notes that, according to ILOSTAT, earnings statistics are derived from the Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), while data on hours of work come from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) (Article 9(1)). Current data on average hours of work are available on the Federal Statistical Office website and in the Eurostat database. The Committee observes that the Government’s report does not provide information on time rates of wages or normal hours of work (Article 9(2)). In the absence of such information, the Committee requests the Government to supply statistics on time rates of wages and normal hours of work in compliance with Article 9(2).

Article 10. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The Committee notes that no new information has been provided in the Government’s report and that reference is made to the previous report. Recalling that in previous reports, information was provided on statistics of the structure and distribution of wages, the Committee encourages the Government to continue to ensure the regular communication of such statistics to the ILO Department of Statistics and to provide any updates in its next report.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating that statistics on occupational injuries are derived from statutory accidents insurance records. These are compiled as part of business and accounting statistics by the accident insurance institutions, in accordance with official instructions, and transmitted to their umbrella organizations, namely the Germany Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and the Social Insurance Fund for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG). The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) subsequently aggregates these data at the federal level. The Committee further notes that individual data outside the scope of these instructions are available from BMAS only for pensions and occupational diseases, while information on absences due to injuries caused by workplace accidents or occupational diseases is not collected in in the country. The Committee observes that the results are published annually in the report Safety and Health at Work of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAUA) and are regularly communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics via the corresponding chapter of its annual questionnaire on labour statistics for dissemination through ILOSTAT. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing statistics on occupational accidents and, as soon as available, information on occupational diseases to the ILO Department of Statistics, in particular in light of the inclusion of “Occupational safety and health” as a fundamental principle and right at work, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 110th session in June 2022, under paragraph 2 of the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes that statistics on strikes and lockouts and industrial relations continue to be regularly transmitted to the ILO Department of Statistics through the annual labour statistics questionnaire. These data are gathered by the Federal Employment Agency based on information received from employers and records of workers’ organizations, with the latest year available being 2024. The Committee welcomes the efforts undertaken to improve the quality of the statistics on industrial action and various steps taken to address underreporting. Among those are awareness-raising in labour administration; establishment of a simpler notification process for associations, particularly; to improve data collection and validation; and to carry out multiple updates to the Instructions regarding industrial action measures and to the notification forms. The Committee encourages the Government to continue submitting up-to-date statistics on industrial relations to the ILO Department of Statistics and to provide information on any changes relevant to the application of this Article of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

The Committee notes the information and statistics provided by the Government concerning Articles 8, 9 and 14 of the Convention. It also notes in this regard that statistics are regularly communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics. In reply to previous comments with respect to Article 9, the Government indicates in its report that ILO guidelines on the measurement of working time are used as a basis to collect statistics on working time. It adds that the Resolution of the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (November 2007) was examined by a task force at the European level. The Committee notes from the report that any necessary adjustments will be made as part of the restructuring of social statistics in the European Statistical System. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments with regard to the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. In reply to previous comments, the Government provides a complete description of the source used for statistics on industrial disputes, namely the administrative records of the Federal Employment Agency. The Government warns of the risks of under-reporting of strikes and lockouts in the resulting statistics. The Committee notes from the report, however, that since those statistics are the only official source for the number of strikes and lockouts, they are still published annually, along with notes on the quality of the data. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on any progress made towards reducing the under-reporting of industrial disputes by increasing the comprehensiveness of the sources of statistics.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 8 of the Convention. According to information available in the ILO, on the occasion of the 2011 census, a new method will be introduced which differs considerably from the traditional population census. The source of the detailed population statistics are continuous population registers. A register-based census predominantly uses existing administrative registers – above all population registers and registers of the Federal Employment Agency. The Committee encourages the Government to supply relevant data as soon as practicable.

Article 9. The Committee draws to the attention of the Government the international new standards concerning the Measurement of Working Time, (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians at: (http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm), whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned to national practice).

Article 14. In response to the previous Committee’s comments, made on the basis of the 1999 observation from the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) as to the scope of the definition of an occupational disease, the Government indicates that the only factor determining whether an illness is included in the list of occupational diseases is that a causal relationship to work activities should have been scientifically proven. Moreover, if an illness is due to several different work-related causes or harmful substances in combination, the disease in question is recorded in the statistics under the reference number of the occupational disease most heavily influenced by the activity or substance in question. The report summarizes the procedures and legal basis for the reporting of information and compilation of statistics of industrial injuries and cases of occupational diseases and notes that the Occupational Diseases Ordinance, covering both sets of statistics, was last amended on 11 July 2009. Appended to the report are copies of the Occupational Diseases Ordinance, instructions for insurance companies, as well as comprehensive statistical reports on occupational diseases, statutory accident insurance, and safety and health at work. The Committee notes with interest this information.

Article 15. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Governent’s report provides no new information regarding statistics of industrial disputes for the period June 2004 to May 2009, nor is any new methodological information available in the ILO. The Committee asks once again the Government to indicate which standards and directives are followed with regard to the compilation of statistics on industrial disputes, in accordance with Article 2.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received at the ILO on 17 August 2009 in reply to its previous comments and the statistical documentation attached.

Article 8 of the Convention. According to information available in the ILO, on the occasion of the 2011 census, a new method will be introduced which differs considerably from the traditional population census. The source of the detailed population statistics are continuous population registers. A register-based census predominantly uses existing administrative registers – above all population registers and registers of the Federal Employment Agency. The Committee encourages the Government to supply relevant data as soon as practicable.

Article 9. The Committee draws to the attention of the Government the international new standards concerning the Measurement of Working Time, (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians at: (http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/
lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm), whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned to national practice).

Article 14. In response to the previous Committee’s comments, made on the basis of the 1999 observation from the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) as to the scope of the definition of an occupational disease, the Government indicates that the only factor determining whether an illness is included in the list of occupational diseases is that a causal relationship to work activities should have been scientifically proven. Moreover, if an illness is due to several different work-related causes or harmful substances in combination, the disease in question is recorded in the statistics under the reference number of the occupational disease most heavily influenced by the activity or substance in question. The report summarizes the procedures and legal basis for the reporting of information and compilation of statistics of industrial injuries and cases of occupational diseases and notes that the Occupational Diseases Ordinance, covering both sets of statistics, was last amended on 11 July 2009. Appended to the report are copies of the Occupational Diseases Ordinance, instructions for insurance companies, as well as comprehensive statistical reports on occupational diseases, statutory accident insurance, and safety and health at work. The Committee notes with interest this information.

Article 15. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Governent’s report provides no new information regarding statistics of industrial disputes for the period June 2004 to May 2009, nor is any new methodological information available in the ILO. The Committee asks once again the Government to indicate which standards and directives are followed with regard to the compilation of statistics on industrial disputes, in accordance with Article 2.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee notes the Government’s report. It asks the Government to provide in its next report further information on the following aspects.

Occupational diseases. Article 14, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee refers to its 1999 observation, in which it referred to the comments received from the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB). According to the trade union organization, the statistics on occupational diseases are incomplete since they only cover those illnesses defined by the Federal Government as occupational diseases. Diseases associated with multiple causative factors are excluded from the scope of occupational diseases, and thus from the statistics. The Committee once again asks the Government to make its position clear in this regard. It invites the Government to indicate the specific definitions and methodology used in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention.

Industrial disputes. Article 15. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate which standards and directives are followed with regard to the compilation of statistics on industrial disputes, in accordance with Article 2.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the Government's report and in particular the information supplied in reply to its previous comments concerning the application of Articles 7, 8 and 13 of the Convention.

The Committee is grateful that the Government has communicated with its report ample documentation containing published statistics. However, it would appear to the Committee that it would not be necessary for the Government to communicate all this documentation with its reports on this Convention, if the same documentation has previously been sent to the Office, thus making it available also to the Committee.

Article 14. With reference to the observation it is making, the Committee will examine the application of this Article at its next session in the light of the comments made by the German Confederation of Trade Unions and any observations the Government may wish to make in reply.

Article 15. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate which specific standards and guidelines are followed with regard to statistics of strikes and lockouts (in accordance with Article 2).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes that the German Confederation of Trade Unions has submitted observations with regard to the Government's report on the application of Article 14 of the Convention. In particular, it considers that the statistics on occupational diseases are incomplete since they only cover those illnesses defined by the Federal Government as occupational diseases, and that diseases associated with many different causative factors are excluded from the scope of occupational diseases, and thus from the statistics. As a copy of this communication was transmitted to the Government in October 1999, the Committee invites the Government to supply its observations on the points raised by the above Confederation so that the Committee can examine the question at its next session.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

The Committee notes the Government's first report and requests the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the ILO standards followed such as resolutions adopted by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) and the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-68 or ISCO-88), with regard to the existing labour force surveys (in accordance with Article 2).

Article 8. The Committee notes that censuses will be replaced by available population registers. It asks the Government to supply information on any development in this regard, including information on the application of Article 2 (ILO standards and guidelines followed, and the use of ISCO-68), and Article 3 (consultation with the employers' and workers' organizations). It also hopes that the Government will communicate to the Office the published statistics and detailed methodological information in accordance with Articles 5 and 6.

Article 13. Noting that the statistics of household income and expenditure exclude households with a monthly income of DM25,000 or more, the Committee asks the Government to indicate measures taken to extend the coverage of such surveys to households of all income groups. If the publication "EVS - Technical Series No. 15" for the 1988 and 1993 surveys contain aggregated data of household income and expenditure, please communicate such published data to the ILO in accordance with Article 5.

Article 14. Please provide information on: (i) specific standards and guidelines followed with regard to statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases (Article 2); (ii) sources of the statistics and definitions and methodology used in collecting and compiling these statistics (Article 6); and (iii) the coverage of the data for all persons injured, indicating whether data are available specifically for those injured with disability, and also if data are available for the corresponding working time lost.

Article 15. Please indicate which specific standards and guidelines are followed with regard to statistics of strikes and lockouts (Article 2). Please also state whether the latest publication of the methodological description of these statistics dates back to 1983-84 and, if so, whether an updated publication is considered.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

The Committee notes the Government's second report and in particular the information supplied in reply to its previous comments. It requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention. Please supply information on any developments in the statistical treatment of underemployment.

Article 8. Please supply information on any developments relating to the next census or its replacement by other statistics.

Article 13. Please communicate to the ILO the published statistics such as the aggregated data of household income and expenditure obtained from the 1988 and 1993 surveys, in accordance with Article 5.

Article 14. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate specific standards and guidelines followed with regard to statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases (Article 2). It also requests it to supply information on the self-management bodies of the accident insurance system, referred to earlier with regard to Article 3, in particular on their composition and functioning. The Committee would be grateful for indication of any development toward the collection of data relating to absence from a result of occupational injuries and diseases. As to the availability of data relating specifically to occupational injuries with disability to work, the Committee recalls that the resolution of the 13th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1982) suggests, for example, a distinction between non-fatal injuries with lost time and those with no lost time, with a further distinction with up to three days of absence and those with more. The same resolution suggests a further and separate division of lost-time injuries between permanent and temporary disablement. Please indicate whether such information is collected and available, or whether there are any plans to develop this aspect of the statistics.

Article 15. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate which specific standards and guidelines are followed with regard to statistics of strikes and lockouts (Article 2). Further to the previous comments concerning the publication of the methodological descriptions, it requests the Government to provide a copy of the circular of 22 April 1992 (4504 A/5124/1722.7) which provides basis for the procedure for collecting information and notification about strikes and lockouts.