Stiftung Menschenwürde und Arbeitswelt

The Stiftung Menschenwürde und Arbeitswelt was founded in 1990 by Peter Vollmer and associates as a non-profit private foundation from inherited assets. It is committed to a working world free from exploitation and oppression, promotes trade union activities, good working conditions, and social security systems that protect against poverty. Its focus areas are the defense of human dignity, raising public awareness on work-related issues, and the social and ecological transformation of work and the economy. By 2026, the foundation has awarded over €8.0 million to more than 2,000 projects.

The foundation's vision is a world without exploitation and oppression, where all workers enjoy equal rights and good working conditions. The foundation promotes the empowerment of dependent and informal workers, solidarity-based trade union work, and alternative forms of economic self-organization. Through targeted public relations efforts, it aims to initiate a broad debate on dignified work and the fair distribution of societal wealth.

Individuals, groups, and organizations committed to solidarity-based action in the world of work are supported. This includes dependent employees, solo self-employed persons, informal workers, and the unemployed, as well as initiatives in care and caregiving work. The projects should promote encounters and the exchange of experiences, foster a critical perspective on production and supply chains, and create public awareness for debates relevant to the world of work.