Trade unions in Germany

**Trade unions in Germany**
National trade union organization(s) DGB
National government agency(ies) Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Primary trade union legislation Article 9, Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law


International Labour Organization Germany is a member of the ILO
Convention ratification

Freedom of Association	March 20, 1957
Right to Organise	June 8, 1956

Trade unions have a long history in Germany, reaching back to the German revolution in 1848, and still play an important role in German economy and society. The most important labor organization is the German Confederation of Trade Unions, which organizes more than 7 million people or approximately 25% of all employees in the country.

v • d • e Trade unions in Europe

Sovereign states	Albania · Andorra · Armenia¹ · Austria · Azerbaijan² · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus¹ · Czech Republic · Denmark⁴ · Estonia · Finland · France^{4, 5, 6} · Georgia² · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Republic of Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan³ · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia³ · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain⁶ · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey³ · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales)

¹ Entirely in Southwest Asia. ² Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions. ^{3 / 4 / 5 / 6} Has part of its territory in Asia / North America / South America / Africa.