The German federal government wants to authorize the use of temporary workers from abroad at German commercial airports. However, it is insisted that employers must at least pay the standard wage. Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) explained this to the “Bild am Sonntag”.

Industry associations have been struggling for a few weeks to get the government to give the go-ahead for the temporary use of around 2.000 Turkish temporary workers given at Germany's airports. So far, the German government has been rather cautious, but the start of the holiday season in North Rhine-Westphalia is likely to have changed attitudes. In Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf, among others, it is closed extremely long queues.

In Germany there is a lack of helping hands at many airports, because there is a shortage of staff in almost all areas. The security service providers who carry out security checks on behalf of the Federal Police are particularly badly affected. Since far too few employees are available, there are occasional waiting times of hours.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) told the newspaper, among other things, that he had coordinated with his fellow ministers Heil and Faeser (Interior). The temporary workers are to be used in the baggage handling area, for example. The assignment is to be limited to “a few months”. However, the FDP government member does not see the responsibility for the chaotic conditions at Germany's airports as lying with the state leadership, but with the airports and airports.