The German Ministry of Defense is preparing a bill for the mobilization of reservists for various tasks, even in times of peace. The initiative has sparked criticism from the employers.

The German Ministry of Defense, represented by spokesperson Natalie Jenning, announces a bill that would allow the mobilization of reservists for various tasks, including in times of peace, a change from the current principle of double voluntarism. This could allow employers to request a postponement of mobilization in cases of necessity. The bill comes as a correction to a controversial clause in the new military service law, which required men of military age to obtain permission from the Ministry of Defense to leave Germany for more than three months. Currently, Germany has approximately 185,000 active soldiers and 60,000 reservists, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius aims to increase these numbers by 2033. The Employers' Association (BDA) has rejected the initiative, emphasizing the need for stability and transparency for businesses, arguing that the double voluntarism model has effectively worked in harmonizing economic interests and those of the Bundeswehr.