Made in Germany: Your Business Magazine

Conservative economists warned that introducing a minimum wage might cost 800,000 jobs. But Germany's economy has adjusted quite well to it, with some 100,000 new positions and more cash in workers' pockets. Now the old debate has taken a new twist: should refugees be exempt from minimum wage requirements? Milto Schmidt looks at the realities of the minimum wage in Berlin businesses.

Many young Kosovars see no economic future in their fledgling republic and want out. So now, most refugees originating in the western Balkans come from Kosovo. In an attempt to create jobs and keep people in the country, the town of Gjakova has established a free trade zone to attract foreign investors. But the initiative is late in coming. Karl Harenbrock looks at the situation of young people in Kosovo.

The United Nations estimates that more than 230 million people have left their home countries in search of better economic prospects. That poses a political challenge that countries like Germany have to face, says Ekkehard Ernst, chief of the macroeconomics policy unit at the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The most ambitious construction project in Germany's arts and culture sector is currently underway next to Museum Island in Berlin: the reconstruction of the historical city palace. Stonemason Sven Schubert oversees a team of 20 whose job is to make chiselled sandstone stuccowork. It's not only a question of manual labor - they also use computer software and robots.

One in seven employees in Germany are simply going through the motions on the job, and more than 70 percent of Germans simply work to rule. Many lack the courage to quit, fearing for their financial security, and worrying that they won't find another job if they're in their mid-forties or older. "Made in Germany" met some people who have dared to make a fresh start.

Companies use compliance controls to ensure they stick to relevant laws and regulations. So how come breaches of standards still occur? We'll be asking our studio guest Andreas Novak from Transparency International Deutschland.

With wind turbines dotted along the coastline in the north and solar panels sparkling on rooftops in the south, it's plain to see that Germany's green energy switch is well underway in many regions. But not everywhere. North Rhine Westphalia remains home to an extensive brown coal industry, despite the environmental damage it causes. In Essen, energy giant RWE failed to invest in renewables and has run into difficulties as a result. It's now facing major restructuring...

They're used in the aerospace industry, in ships and wind turbines and even sports equipment: elongated fibers that are more stable than steel and lighter than aluminum. Saertex produces them. Founded by textile engineer Bruno Lammers, the company is now the world market leader in its field and employs about 1,200 workers. Report by Anja Kimmig

Germany's largest theme park is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. After a three-week break for alterations, it's now re-opened for winter business, which is especially brisk towards the end of the year. With up to 20,000 visitors a day, security is also a challenge. Report by Sonja Schock

Since the terrorist attacks in Paris, the debate over tightening border security in Europe has intensified. Border crossings are to be more stringently monitored. The border town of Freilassing marks the end of the Balkan route for thousands of refugees wanting to reach Germany via Austria. Long queues and waiting times are a proving a challenge for the region's economy. Report by Karl Harenbrock