How high is the chair's fee?

There is no statutory fixed amount. The fee is measured by the scope and difficulty of the work (Section 76a BetrVG) and agreed transparently in advance – daily or hourly rates are common. The amount depends on the specific case.

Guide · Cost

What does a conciliation committee cost?

Q: Who pays for the conciliation committee?

The employer bears the cost of the conciliation committee (Section 76a(1) BetrVG), including the fees of the chair and external assessors and the material costs of the procedure.

The cost of a conciliation committee cannot be stated as a flat amount – it depends on the procedure. This guide explains who pays, how the chair's fee is measured under Section 76a BetrVG, and how to limit the cost effectively.

Who pays? (Section 76a(1) BetrVG)

The employer bears the cost of the conciliation committee (Section 76a(1) BetrVG). This includes the fee of the chair, the fees of external assessors and the material costs of the procedure. Assessors who are members of the workforce receive no separate fee; they are released for the work with continued pay.

The chair's fee (Section 76a BetrVG)

There is no statutory fixed amount and no fee schedule for the chair's remuneration. It is measured by the scope and difficulty of the work and agreed between the parties in advance – daily or hourly rates are common, often oriented towards lawyers' fees. External assessors usually receive a share of the chair's fee. The main driver of total cost is therefore the effort: the number and length of sittings and the preparation required.

Cost factors

What the amount depends on

Number and length of sittings
Complexity and number of points in dispute
Preparation and review effort
Number of external assessors
Travel/material costs (reducible via video conference)

Lower the cost

How to keep costs down

Agree the fee clearly and transparently in advance
Bundle dates, run sittings tightly
Provide documents fully and early
Define the point in dispute clearly
Use video conferencing instead of long travel

This page provides neutral information on the legal situation. As chair of a conciliation committee I represent neither side – I guide employer and works council jointly to a balanced, legally sound arrangement.

FAQ

Briefly answered

The employer bears the cost (Section 76a(1) BetrVG) – including the fees of the chair and external assessors and the material costs.

There is no statutory fixed amount. The fee is measured by scope and difficulty (Section 76a BetrVG) and agreed transparently in advance – daily or hourly rates are common. The amount depends on the specific case.

Yes. Good preparation, bundled dates and tight conduct of proceedings reduce the number of sittings and thus the effort. A clear fee agreement in advance provides planning certainty.

More in the guide: Choosing the chair · Process & duration · all guides

Transparent cost from the start

I agree the fee clearly in advance and run the procedure efficiently – so cost stays predictable. Get in touch.

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