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Germany extends support for pandemic-hit companies into mid-2021

The German government said Friday it was extending its loan scheme for pandemic-hit companies into mid-2021 and boosting support for self-employed workers during the crisis.

Published: 6 November 2020 18:36 CET

Germany extends support for pandemic-hit companies into mid-2021

Frankfurt's skyline, where many banks and other companies are based. Photo: DPA

The aid programme allows companies to apply for state-backed loans of up to 25 percent of last year's turnover for a maximum of €800,000, provided by the state-owned KfW bank.

The scheme has been a lifeline for the country's army of small and medium-sized companies, many of which were forced to temporarily shut down at the height of lockdowns in the spring.

The programme, now extended until June 30th, 2021, will also be expanded to include self-employed people and companies with up to 10 employees.

“The effects of the corona pandemic are greater and longer than we expected and hoped,” Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in a statement.

READ ALSO: What closes and what stays open across Germany's states during lockdown?

“In this serious situation we are not leaving our companies and their employees alone.”

The KfW has already received more than 95,000 requests for the coronavirus aid, amounting to some €46 billion in loans.

The usually frugal German government unleashed an unprecedented rescue package in March to shield Europe's top economy from the pandemic fallout, pledging more than a trillion euros in support for firms and workers.

With the country now battling a second coronavirus wave, Berlin recently extended its “Kurzarbeit” short-time working scheme for a total of 24 months to help save jobs.

The government has also promised an additional €10 billion in support specifically for businesses smarting from a new round of restrictions this November, like restaurants, bars, cultural and leisure centres.

The affected businesses will be able to apply for compensation of up to 75 percent of their takings from November 2019.

The measures come as Germany on Friday notched up a record number of daily Covid-19 cases, adding another 21,506 cases to bring the total to 619,089 since the start of the pandemic.

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Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Munich ranks third in German cities with the highest total GDP, behind Berlin and Hamburg, but in terms of GDP per capita, it’s higher than both of them.

It also consistently ranks high, often highest, in terms of average household income.

As of 2023, nine of the 40 companies listed on DAX, Germany’s stock index, were based in Bavaria. Seven of those are based specifically in Munich.

While Frankfurt is commonly known to be Germany’s business capital, Munich can claim the title of Germany’s insurance capital, which is saying something, as Germany is home to some of the largest insurance firms in the world, like Allianz.

Beyond the state’s capital city, a number of international companies are based elsewhere in Bavaria, particularly in the Franken region, near Nuremberg.

Which companies actively hire English speakers?

Bavaria, and Munich in particular, is home to a number of companies at the forefront of international business. But the state is known for its traditional, sometimes conservative, culture, which affects its business culture as well.

Whereas companies embracing English as their primary business language are easy to find in Berlin, the practice is less common in the south. That said, there are some notable exceptions.

Sportswear giants, Adidas and Puma, both have their headquarters near Nuremberg in Herzogenaurach, and regularly recruit English speaking international talent.

“As an international company, our teams reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities,” Jon Greenhalgh, Senior Manager Media Relations for Adidas told The Local. “Fostering a culture of inclusion where we value and leverage differences, ensures that we can authentically engage with our employees and truly connect with our consumers.”

He added that around 40 per cent of Adidas’ Germany-based employees are foreign nationals, from over 100 different countries.

Siemens and BMW rank among Bavaria’s top employers, and are also known to hire their fair share of foreigners.

“In Germany, we recently had around 2,000 open positions,” Konstanze Somborn told The Local on behalf of Siemens AG.

He added that Siemens operates in 190 countries. “That is why we value international teams very much…English as a common language is very usual.”

READ ALSO: ‘Which German companies want to hire foreigners?’

Similarly, BMW hires workers from a variety of backgrounds.

“Every year, we hire lots of internationals and welcome them to the BMW Group,” Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl, a press spokesman for BMW Group told The Local.

But not all of these positions are available to non-German speakers.

Ketterl added that BMW’s working language is German in the country, even though, “English is an indispensable entry requirement as the second corporate language in many areas of the company.”

Check job boards and follow best practices

If it’s your first time applying for jobs in Germany, make sure to change your resume to the German format, even for English positions.

While Germany is home to its own job boards, like Xing, LinkedIn is probably the best place to start. In addition to searching for positions based in your preferred location, you can check relevant groups, like Munich Startups, to broaden your horizons.

The English Jobs in Germany website is also a good resource to start with.

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