Bundesarbeitsgericht

The Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG) is the highest court of ordinary jurisdiction for labor and employment law in Germany. It ensures the uniform application of German labor law and serves as the final appellate court for cases involving individual employment disputes, collective bargaining issues, and matters related to the works constitution. Its jurisprudence shapes the interpretation and application of labor and related social regulations across the country.

The BAG reviews decisions from the Landesarbeitsgerichte (state labor courts) and the Arbeitsgerichte (labor courts) on points of law. It handles cases concerning terminations of employment, wage claims, collective agreements, and questions arising under the Works Constitution Act and related labor and social regulations. In most instances, the court decides on legal questions rather than re-examining factual findings; its rulings are binding nationwide and guide lower courts.

The court is seated in Erfurt, Thuringia. It is organized into senates, each composed of professional judges, which decide cases; in some situations multiple senates may hear a case. The BAG issues published judgments and explanations that serve as authoritative interpretations of German labor law for courts, parties, and lawmakers.

Historically established in the postwar period to stabilize and unify labor-law jurisprudence, the Bundesarbeitsgericht remains a central institution for employment relationships, collective bargaining, and related social-law questions. Its decisions influence the development of German labor policy and the practical application of numerous labor and social regulations.