First the good news: Munich is a prosperous area, greater Munich is Germany's silicon valley, which creates many jobs for academics and workers alike. Around 50,000 people are employed in research alone, and the abundance of building land around the metropolis makes expansion easy.
If you are considering moving to Munich with your family, your children's education is the last thing you need to worry about: state schools at all levels are free and provide a sound education including at least one foreign language according to your child's personal talents and preferences. Universities do not charge fees either.
Employment OfficeWhen looking for a job, you can contact the official Employment Office:
Arbeitsamt München
Kapuzinerstraße 26
80337 München
Tel: +49 (0)89 5154 -0
Fax: +49 (0)89 5154 -6669
E-Mail: Muenchen@arbeitsamt.de
Unemployment Insurance
Whenever you earn money as an employee in Germany a part of it will be automatically paid to your state unemployment insurance. The longer you have worked and the more you have earned, the higher that insurance will be. Please contact the Munich Insurance Office for detailed information as soon as you start working in Munich - better safe than sorry!
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Ruppertstraße 11, 2nd floor (new building), room 286
Tel: 089 233 44134
Opening hours:
Mon 8am - 12pm
Tue 8am - 12pm and 2pm - 6.30pm
Wed 8am - 12pm
Thu 8am - 12pm
Fri 7am - 12pm
Sozialamt (Welfare Office)
In case of financial hardship, whatever the reasons may be, you can apply for social welfare. The Sozialamt in Munich offers assistance to people who cannot earn their living - because of pregnancy, disability or other special circumstances. Contact:
Sozialamt
Orleansplatz 11
81667 München
Tel: 089 233 22639
Fax: 089 233 27944
e-Mail: sozialamt.soz@muenchen.de
Labour Unions
If you work in Germany you have the right to get involved in a trade or labour union. This is a recognised and widespread practise. All unions are represented by the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (German Union Association). Their website informs you about unions of the various branches and how to contact them. The English version only informs you about the local contact addresses, so here is a glossary for the branches represented by unions as can be found on the German website.
Glossary:
Bauen - Agrar - Umwelt: building, agriculture, environment
Bergbau, Chemie, Energie: mining, chemistry, energy
Erziehung und Wissenschaft: education and research
Metall: metal workers' union
Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten: nutrition and gastronomy
Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft: service union
