Continental AG is a Fair Company

Fair Companies

Fair Companies do not replace full-time employees with trainees, supposed volunteers, guest workers, or similar positions.
The Berlin Labor Court declared in 2003 that a working relationship must be characterized as an employee contract and not as a traineeship, if the primary focus is on performing work rather than acquiring skills and experience. Fair Companies do not treat trainees as cheap labor.  They have responsibilities and are involved in projects, but they cannot replace fully-fledged employees. Volunteer and trainee schemes are career entry programs, which are based on a training curriculum. In Fair Companies, these positions provide a basic remuneration.

In Fair Companies, college graduates who apply for a permanent position are not put off with a traineeship.
It goes without saying: The argument that the applicant must first prove themselves in a traineeship does not exist in a Fair Company. The probation period is there so that companies and employees have a chance to get know each other, it is therefore considered a legitimate procedure by Fair Companies.

Fair Companies do not entice trainees with vague prospects of a subsequent permanent position.
This rule follows directly from the previous one. Career starters must not be strung along with traineeships. In Fair Companies, existing trainee relationships are not prolonged with the excuse that this paves the way to a permanent position. 

Fair Companies offer traineeships primarily for the purpose of professional orientation during the training phase.
Ideally, traineeship are completed before or during third-level education.  Fair Companies make sure that Bachelor students also have the opportunity to experience working life at an early stage. A college degree must not be made the prerequisite for a traineeship in Fair Companies. College graduates who apply for a traineeship of their own accord, are allowed to complete a traineeship in Fair Companies. There is, of course, no problem with doing a traineeship between completing bachelor degree and starting a master's degree. The same applies to students doing a second degree, a master's degree, or a postgraduate course.

Fair Companies pay their trainees an adequate allowance.
The appropriate salary for a traineeship depends on several factors. These include the duration of the traineeship, the trainee's previous knowledge, and the field of work.  Fair Companies are recommended to base the remuneration of traineeships lasting several months on the highest rate of BAföG, the German student loan. At present this is around 585 euros and is set to increase to 643 euros in October 2008. Fair Companies should remunerate traineeships – with the exception of very short introductory traineeships, preliminary placements and work experience for pupils – with a sum of at least 300 euro per month.