Highlights from Recent Joint Statement on the WissZeitVG Reform
As the Max Planck PostdocNet, we are committed to strengthening the collective voice of our postdocs during this crucial phase of the WissZeitVG reform.
Over the past months, we, together with the Helmholtz Association PostDoc Network and the the Leibniz Postdoc Network, have been actively coordinating with other postdoc communities across Germany to align our perspectives and advocate together for meaningful change in the upcoming WissZeitVG reforms.
With the draft amendment expected soon, we want to highlight the core points from our recent joint statement that reflect the everyday realities, challenges, and hopes of postdocs across Germany:
1. A minimum contract duration of 3 years
Short contracts don’t just disrupt research, they disrupt lives. Three‑year contracts are essential for stability, planning, and the ability to carry out high‑quality scientific work without constant uncertainty.
2. Qualification agreements as a standard part of every contract
Clear, binding qualification agreements help ensure that postdocs can actually pursue the development goals their positions promise. They create transparency, protect against shifting expectations, and support genuine career growth.
3. A meaningful distinction between types of third‑party funding
Third‑party funding cannot be “one‑size‑fits‑all” anymore. We emphasize the need to distinguish between:
Self‑managed third‑party funding, where postdocs lead and shape their own projects, and
Third‑party funding managed by a PI, where postdocs have limited influence over direction and resources. These situations come with different responsibilities and levels of autonomy, and the law should reflect that.
We are looking forward to the Referentinnenentwurf and are prepared to engage with it constructively, as this marks an important next step in our ongoing dialogue on shaping a future‑proof WissZeitVG.