Tarifwerk

Tarifwerk is a term used in German-speaking labor relations to describe the structured framework of tariffs, wage scales and related employment conditions that regulate compensation and working terms within a sector, company, or region. It denotes the collection of rules, guidelines and collective agreements negotiated by employers' associations and trade unions. A Tarifwerk typically specifies pay bands or wage groups, progression steps, overtime rates, shift premia, allowances, vacation entitlements, working hours, and rules for training and career development. It may also cover non-wage benefits and procedures for implementation and dispute settlement.

Tarifwerke are created through collective bargaining and codified in one or more Tarifverträge (collective agreements). They can be area-wide (Flächentarifverträge) covering many employers and workers or company-wide (Firmentarifverträge). The term also encompasses Mantelverträge that set framework conditions, with separate Entgelttarifverträge that define remuneration scales. Tariffautonomie (tariff autonomy) governs their negotiation, while public-law extensions (Allgemeinverbindlicherklärung) can extend the terms to non-members in indicated sectors.

A Tarifwerk aims to provide predictable remuneration, support wage fairness, and maintain industrial stability. Its content and scope vary by sector and country, and updates occur periodically to reflect economic changes. Critics point to complexity and coverage gaps, particularly for non-unionized firms or non-covered workers.