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Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Wednesday, December 03 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 205 sources so you don't have to.
🫶 Witnessed an act of kindness lately? Berlin can be grey, but the people don’t have to be. Whether it was a stranger returning a lost wallet or a nice chat at the Späti, tell us about a small act of kindness you witnessed lately. Help us brighten the next newsletter by sharing it with the community. Tell us what you saw!
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🇩🇪 Labour minister examines a ban on subcontractors
Germany’s labour minister Bärbel Bas plans to examine a ban on subcontractors for food delivery platforms. The move follows rbb findings of forced undeclared work, unpaid wages, threats, and violence among riders working for firms supplying Wolt and Uber Eats. Bas argues that only direct employment can ensure transparency and compliance with labour law. (tagesschau.de)
A European Commission analysis estimated over 500 digital labour platforms in the EU employing about 28 million people in 2021, with that figure projected to reach 43 million by 2025. At least 5.5 million workers may be wrongly classified as self‑employed, losing access to key protections. (European Parliament)
New EU rules presume app-based workers (like Uber drivers) are employees, not freelancers, if platforms control their duties. This shift grants millions access to minimum wage and sick pay. Additionally, "algorithmic management" faces restrictions: apps must disclose how decisions are made, and humans (not AI) must oversee firings and suspensions. (Council of the EU)
Bas’s proposal signals that Germany may go further than EU minimum rules by directly banning subcontracting in this sector. That would mirror the meat industry, where a 2021 subcontracting ban led to more than 23,000 additional direct employees, about an 18 % increase in one year, and fewer reported workplace accidents. (Social Europe)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 Study reveals alarming figures on rents in Berlin | Nearly half of Berlin’s existing rental listings are priced above Germany’s rent control limit, according to a new study by the German Tenants’ Association (DMB). More than two thirds of furnished offers violate the rules, and a third exceed the legal “rent usury” threshold. Violations in Ulm are even higher. The DMB urges stricter laws and heavy fines.
🇩🇪 Fireworks and madness in Berlin: a ban on private fireworks only treats the symptoms | The piece argues Berlin’s debate over private fireworks bans misses a deeper problem. Serious injuries, attacks on emergency workers, and illegal explosives reflect a breakdown in basic civic norms. Broad bans would be hard to enforce and would curb responsible families, too. The author calls instead for confronting the wider loss of civility behind the violence.
🇩🇪 Dumping bulky waste? You can now do this free of charge in your neighborhood | Berlin’s public cleaning service BSR is setting up December “Kieztage,” where residents can drop bulky waste for free without visiting a recycling center. The program accepts items like furniture, mattresses, electronics, and textiles, and adds a small swap market for reusable goods. Hazardous items still require disposal at regular recycling yards.
🇩🇪 Is it just a cold or is it the flu? | Health officials say Germany’s flu wave is just starting, with about seven million people currently reporting acute respiratory illnesses. A new H3N2 subtype, “Subclade K,” is driving earlier and higher case numbers in Europe but does not appear more severe. Experts still recommend flu vaccination, especially for high‑risk groups, plus basic hygiene and timely testing.
🇩🇪 Dobrindt puts drone defense into service | Germany is expanding a new federal police unit to neutralize “uncooperative” drones at major airports and sensitive sites. The force will grow from 40 to 130 specialists and is backed by €100M for counter-drone tech. Officials warn drone technology evolves in weeks, and complex split jurisdictions could still slow real-time responses.
🇩🇪 Martial arts without sight How a blind karate world champion from Berlin beats invisible opponents | Helga Balkie, 67, lost her sight due to multiple sclerosis but became a three-time world and one-time European champion in blind karate. She retrained with a new club using step counting, touch, and sound cues to master complex routines. She now coaches children and adults with disabilities and recently received a Berlin sports inclusion honor.
🇩🇪 130-meter high-rise to be built in Berlin-Tiergarten | Developers want to build two residential towers with 284 flats (including 85 subsidized units) on Hasso Plattner’s Tiergarten property, but a protected 1950s pavilion and heritage rules still block progress. The project highlights Berlin’s new high-rise policy, which drops mandatory public roof terraces and office space quotas to speed dense housing construction.
🇩🇪 Happy in their jobs, but totally overworked: Berlin's principals hardly have time to manage schools | A new study of Berlin and Hamburg school leadership teams finds they work five to six unpaid hours weekly on average, with many topping 48 or even 60 hours. Most of this time goes to administration, not teaching quality or staff support. Yet 85% would choose the role again, raising concerns about burnout and future hiring.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Medieval Christmas Market at the RAW Compound | November 13 to December 22, 2025 | Tuesday to Friday €3, concessions €1.50, Saturday and Sunday €4, concessions €2, Monday free | A medieval market showcases blacksmiths, potters and woodcarvers selling handmade gifts. Jugglers and acrobats roam amid torchlight. You sip hot mead (or try archery).
🎟️ This weekend: Berlin Chili Fest | December 06 and 07, 2025 | Free, €5 donation recommended, includes free raffle ticket | Over 30 hot sauce makers showcase fiery artisanal sauces. Twelve food stalls serve global spicy dishes (including vegan options). Live music and chilli-eating contests crank up the heat. Families enjoy a kids' play area.
🎟️ This weekend: Christmas Market at the Grunewald Hunting Lodge | December 06 and 07, 2025 | 3,50 Euro, reduced 2 Euro, children up to 6 years free | A castle glows in the forest. Stalls sell handmade gifts and mulled wine. Fairytale characters stroll among visitors. Children meet storybook heroes (and enjoy live music).
📚 The December Literary List | Looking for literary events in Berlin? This month’s issue covers 25+ English-language gatherings, including book launches, open mics, and a special end-of-year creative writing workshop. Get the full list from our partner, Berlin Literary Events.
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Losing Job Opportunity at the Same Time Residence Permit Appointment | Worker lost job while waiting for permit appointment and asks whether to inform authorities.
🗣️ little reminder | Heated debate over whether Berlin techno still embodies love or feels unsafe.
🗣️ Kann jemand eine gute Klinik im Raum Berlin empfehlen? | Someone urgently seeking a compassionate Berlin clinic for chronic trauma and severe anxiety.
🤑 Word of the Day: Geizhals | Literal: Greed-neck | Meaning: A cheapskate or miser. | Example: Er ist so ein Geizhals, er hat noch nie eine Runde ausgegeben. (He's such a greed-neck, he has never bought a round.)
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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