Appreciation for employees: NRW Prime Minister recognizes social commitment

Appreciation for employees: NRW Prime Minister recognizes social commitment

On April 28, 2025, the traditional workers' reception of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia took place in Oberhausen. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst welcomed almost 500 guests, including numerous union representatives. This event has a long tradition and was launched in the 1980s by Prime Minister Johannes Rau. She recognizes the achievements of employees in the country.

Wüst emphasized the central role of the social partnership and thanked the unions for their commitment. He emphasized that when the lignite promotion expires, the know-how and the diligence of people in the region become important resources.

social challenges

An important point that Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann spoke to was the currently tense economic situation, which is characterized by zero growth in the third year in a row. Laumann underlined the need to get growth as soon as possible in order to offer the affected people perspectives.

"We have to strengthen the role of participation and social partnership in this crisis," he continued. Anja Weber, the DGB state chairman, described May 1st as the day of work. She viewed workers' reception as a clear sign of appreciation for all employees. Weber called for security and perspectives as well as an effective tariff loyalty law in North Rhine-Westphalia.

events for the day of work

In several cities of North Rhine-Westphalia, further events are planned for the day of work. For example, a DGB reception in the Volkspark is held in Hagen, which begins at 11 a.m. The DGB chairman Stefan Marx is expected as a speaker. In Hamm, the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze, will speak on Martin-Luther-Platz at 11 a.m.

The events in some other cities include:

• Herford: employee reception on April 28, 5:30 p.m., bad weather is not to be expected.
• Cologne: employee reception on April 28, 11 a.m., in the town hall.
• Krefeld: on April 29 at 11 a.m. at the reunification square, with Zafar Ates as a speaker.
• Leverkusen: employee reception on April 29, 6 p.m., in the Freudenthaler Sensenhammer industrial museum.

The large number of these events underlines the importance of May 1st as a day on which the focus of the concerns of the employees is on the center. The speeches and discussions should help to address the concerns and challenges of the employees.

In another context, a study on the 2023 collective bargaining trial examines the challenges for unions in times of crisis, such as during the Corona pandemic and in times of high inflation. This scientific processing aims to analyze the solidarity discourses within the unions and the role of unions in the provision of public goods.

The challenges that the unions are facing today are complex. Nevertheless, the trade union movement remains a central player in the social partnership and plays an important role in the design of the world of work in North Rhine-Westphalia.