Trainees in the Rhein-Sieg district: Help with rights and obligations!

Trainees in the Rhein-Sieg district: Help with rights and obligations!

The challenges that trainees in the Rhein-Sieg district are confronted with are no coincidence. Mehmet Perisan, the district chairman of IG BAU, pointed out in a recent conversation that many young people have questions about topics such as unpaid overtime, vacation bans and even cell phone bans. These aspects play a central role for the approximately 8,130 trainees in the region. To counteract these challenges, Perisan recommends the platform www.dr-azubi.de that offers professional help.

Dual vocational training in Germany, which is clearly regulated by law, offers trainees some important rights. These include, among other things, the right to a training contract, appropriate remuneration and a legal framework that defines working hours and the use of suitable trainers. Solid knowledge of these rights is crucial and can help trainees successfully complete their training. On the website training.de Further information can be found here.

Rights and obligations of trainees

The trainees enjoy some relevant rights according to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Youth Employment Protection Act (JArbSchG). The BBiG regulates, among other things, the obligations of trainees, which include compliance with company regulations and keeping a report book. You are also entitled to a training certificate and fair remuneration, which has been at least 682 euros gross in the first year since 2025. In the following years, the minimum training allowance increases to 805 euros, 921 euros and finally 955 euros in the fourth year of training, as shown daily news reported.

But not all trainees are aware of their rights. Perisan emphasizes that many new trainees usually need support. The most common concerns include questions about vacation planning and how to handle overtime. A 24/7 DGB consultation hour offers an important point of contact for such questions. Topics covered here range from training remuneration to health protection and changing training positions.

Protection and support in business

In addition, the works council plays an important role when it comes to supporting trainees. These committees not only have the task of representing the interests of all employees, but also provide trainees with advice and support. If there is any uncertainty, trainees can have their training contract checked by the union to ensure that everything is proceeding according to law. The training advisors in the chambers and guilds are also a contact point for further questions and can provide valuable information.

The economic situation in Germany is increasingly influencing the number of training places on offer, so that more than a quarter of companies are planning to train fewer trainees. It is all the more important that young people are well informed and know their rights. This is the only way they can have a good hand for themselves and their training.