At the turn of the year, various reforms of the traffic light coalition came into force.

The situation is a bit calmer in February, but there are changes, especially with the Corona rules.

An overview:

Beer is getting more expensive

Consumers must reckon with rising beer prices.

Several breweries have announced price increases, such as the Bitburger Group on February 1st.

Veltins will already increase prices on January 29th.

Krombacher plans to take the step on March 1st.

End of the mask requirement in long-distance transport

The mask requirement in long-distance traffic will no longer apply from February 2nd.

Even in local transport, for which the federal states are responsible, wearing a mouth and nose cover should no longer be mandatory until the beginning of February.

Several federal states have already implemented this, all others will follow suit by February 3rd.

The Federal Ministry of Health is promoting the voluntary wearing of a mask for self-protection.

Fewer corona rules in the workplace

The statutory corona rules are also being relaxed in the workplace: a corresponding occupational safety regulation is expected to expire on February 2nd.

So far, employers have had to examine home office and test offers for employees as part of a hygiene concept.

Anyone suffering from a mild respiratory disease can still get sick leave from a doctor for up to seven days over the phone.

This rule will initially apply until March 31, 2023.

It will also not change that if at least ten percent of the employees of a company are affected by the loss of work, short-time work benefits will be paid.

Employees still do not have to build up any negative hours before short-time work benefits can be paid.

This applies until June 30, 2023. Temporary workers can also receive short-time work benefits up to this point.

Compulsory corona test for travelers from China

The new entry regulation has been in effect since January 7, 2023.

Due to the corona wave in China, everyone entering Germany from there must be tested.

End of energy-saving lamps

From February 25, certain energy-saving lamps that contain mercury will no longer be allowed to be manufactured.

In fact, mercury has not been allowed to be used in electrical and electronic equipment for more than 15 years.

However, until now there has been an exception for some fluorescent lamps.

That is now changing;

the ban applies to ring-shaped fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps with plug-in bases.

Goods that are still in the warehouse can still be sold.

postal strikes

It is still unclear how the warning strikes at Deutsche Post will develop.

The next collective bargaining negotiations with the Verdi union are scheduled for February 8th and 9th.

So there are other possible exceptions.

According to Swiss Post, every fifth parcel and every eleventh letter was left behind on the last weekend in January because around 13,500 employees went on strike on Saturday.

According to Verdi, 18,000 employees took part in the postal strike.

Hardship fund: 2500 euros one-time payment

Pensioners from certain professional groups from East Germany as well as late resettlers and Jewish quota refugees from the former Soviet Union can apply for a one-off payment.

The prerequisite is that your statutory pension is close to the basic security level.

A one-off payment of 2500 euros is planned.

Eligible are – subject to further conditions – for example, employees at the Deutsche Reichsbahn, miners in the carbochemical/lignite refinery, divorced under GDR law with at least one child after at least ten years of marriage and ballet dancers (as compensation for the “ballet pension” promised by the GDR).

The complete list and information on the online application are available on the Federal Government's website.

eat crickets

House crickets and larvae of the grain mold beetle - processed into powder - may be contained in food since January 26, 2023.

If insects have been incorporated into the food, they must appear in the ingredients list of the products.

being.

New wind power law in force

The onshore wind law comes into force on February 1, with which the traffic light coalition sets legally binding area targets for onshore wind power.

By 2027, 1.4 percent and by 2032 2 percent of the federal area should be available for wind turbines.

So far, these goals have been far from being achieved in most federal states - the range in the non-city states is between around 2 percent in Schleswig-Holstein and 0.2 percent in Baden-Württemberg.

According to the federal government, the amount of electricity from renewable energies should double by 2030.

Vote from 16

In future, 16 and 17-year-olds in Germany will also be able to vote for the European Parliament.

The next European elections will take place in spring 2024.