Labour Rights in Germany (for people who don't speak German)

New leaflet about labour law in 16 languages

The FAU Berlin's foreign workers' section has produced a leaflet which provides the basics about German labour laws. The leaflet takes a look at what laws protect workers in Germany. It is aimed at new arrivals to Germany who do not understand German and who are already working or looking for work. It focuses on those issues -- such as dismissal protection and non-payment of wages -- which in our experience pop up again and again.

Click the links below to download the leaflet in your language:













Unfortunately, German labour law does not go far enough to protect employees. In fact, the few laws which do exist are being continuously diluted. That said, foreigners and recent arrivals are often in an even worse position if they don't understand German as most of the information about labour laws is in German. Whereby, it must be said that German labour law is so complicated that it often isn't even understood by the locals -- who will likely read this flyer just as eagerly.

With this flyer, we hope to empower non-German-speakers to protect themselves against bosses taking advantage of them illegally. As for those being taken advantage of legally: take action and join a union! The FAU, for example. The section has been getting this message out by distributing this leaflet at workplaces in Berlin that have a reputation for taking advantage of foreign workers. Send us an email if you have a tip.

The leaflet has been kept short as it is only meant as an introduction. More detailed questions can be answered by email (faub@fau.org) or in our offices in Lottumstrasse 5 on the second and forth Friday of the month from 17:00 to 18:00. By clicking the links above, you can download the flyer as a PDF in 16 languages with more being worked on.

More information

You can follow the activities of the FAU Berlin and its foreign workers' section on Twitter and Facebook. The FAU Berlin foreign workers' section generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the FAU Berlin's offices in Lottumstr. 11.