Countries deliberate over vacation provisions, mattress purchases, and financial stimuli
The Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, has shown support for two significant initiatives: a circular economy for mattresses and full-day care for elementary school children.
FDP faction leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke has urged the states to support the federal government's proposed tax-based investment quick program, which could potentially incur tax losses of 30 billion euros, with the states and municipalities expected to shoulder two-thirds of the burden. Rülke warns against a "financial policy capitulation" of public budgets during challenging times.
In a related matter, the Bundesrat aims to make full-day care for elementary school children (grades 1-4) a legal right starting from the 2026/2027 school year. This legal right includes up to eight hours of care on weekdays, even during school holidays. The resolution regarding this matter is documented as Document 208/25.
Susanne Herre, CEO of the IHK Region Stuttgart, has stated that lack of care options is a reason for many employees to work part-time or longer hours than they would prefer. The Bundesrat's decision has been welcomed by the IHK Region Stuttgart.
Regarding the circular economy for mattresses, the Bundesrat advocates for enhanced recycling and sustainable disposal practices in Germany. This approach implies manufacturers will likely face stricter responsibilities to manage the life cycle of mattresses, including designing products that are easier to recycle and contributing financially or operationally to the collection and recycling of old mattresses.
The usual school care capacities are not sufficient to meet the demand, so holiday offers from youth work will also cover the legal claim. Currently, approximately eight million mattresses are disposed of in Germany annually, with most being burned. The Bundesrat's stance includes promoting legislation or policies encouraging mattress recycling to minimize landfill use and recover valuable materials.
The practice of a circular economy for mattresses is already in place in France and the Benelux countries. While detailed regulatory texts or specific timelines from the Bundesrat are not explicitly mentioned in the current sources, the support for these initiatives is evident.
In a separate issue, Susanne Herre has stated that the lack of care options particularly affects women. This issue has been highlighted as a significant barrier to full-time employment for many.
[1] Source: Various online sources documenting the Bundesrat's stance on these matters.
- The municipalities and states, as well as the federal government, are encouraged to collaborate on implementing the proposed tax-based investment quick program, following the warnings of FDP faction leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke about potential financial policy capitulation.
- The policy and legislation surrounding education-and-self-development, specifically the right to full-day care for elementary school children, is being debated and improved, with the Bundesrat working towards making it a legal right starting from the 2026/2027 school year.
- In line with general news and learning, the practice of implementing a circular economy for mattresses, focusing on enhanced recycling and sustainable disposal, is gaining support from various sources, including the Bundesrat, and has already been successfully implemented in countries like France and the Benelux.
