For Esther Lynch, the political mandate is clear. particularly in professions that cannot just be replaced by AI, the priority is to recognise the value of the work people are doing, and pay them better. Public contracts cannot be awarded solely based on the lowest price, but must be linked to collective bargaining agreements, further training and must be socially responsible. Lynch also highlights the stress many workers suffer who have no way of escalating their problems. -fw

Katrin Rulle

Philipp Türmer warns that workers cannot be made invisible again. While the SPD ran a strong election campaign using the term ‘respect’, he argues that the debate later became too technical. For Türmer, labour rights are not just about the minimum wage or pension levels, but about the fundamental question of whether people actually feel equal in their everyday lives. Too often, promises are not kept, he says – and people feel this very keenly. Social democracy must be more successful at championing equality, social mobility and equal opportunities. -fw

Katrin Rulle