A German collective agreement that established an occupational pension scheme for film workers is set to be extended across the entire sector, after trade union ver.di and industry partners applied for the agreement to be declared universally binding.

The application, submitted jointly by ver.di, the German Producers Alliance (Produktionsallianz) and actors’ union BFFS to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), would see the scheme apply from the start of 2027 to all employees working on fictional film productions, including those in cinema, television and streaming.

The collective agreement, which was concluded more than a year ago, currently applies to employers and employees covered by the existing bargaining arrangements.

If approved, the declaration of universal applicability would extend the agreement to remaining employment relationships in the sector, including those at production companies that are not bound by the agreement.

Ver.di federal executive board media executive, Christoph Schmitz-Dethlefsen, said the move would significantly strengthen retirement provision for film workers, who often have very short-term contracts and frequently changing employers.

"With employer contributions and salary sacrifice for employees' own contributions, a total of 8 per cent of earnings can be directed towards building retirement savings, substantially supplementing what are often modest statutory pensions, particularly when these pension contributions are made from every film engagement," he said.

He added that it was "commendable and a responsible step for the industry" that the other two bargaining parties had joined ver.di in applying for universal applicability.

Schmitz-Dethlefsen said he expected the BMAS to approve the application soon, noting that the collective agreement already covers the majority of employment relationships in fictional film productions.

Making the agreement universally binding would extend its reach to workers employed by production companies that are not currently covered.

Implementation would require limited administrative effort, as the specialised Pensionskasse Rundfunk, which serves film workers and freelance broadcasting professionals, would manage the insurance contracts through a largely automated process once workers opt into the occupational pension scheme.

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