Discrimination in Berlin: AGG, LADG, and where to get advice

AGG: scope and protected characteristics

Under § 1 AGG, the aim is to prevent or eliminate discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual identity. § 2 Abs. 1 AGG covers, among other things, access to employment and career advancement, employment and working conditions including pay and dismissal conditions, vocational guidance and vocational training, social protection including social security and health services, social advantages, education, and access to and supply of goods and services available to the public, including housing. Per the Senatsverwaltung (Senate Department), the AGG does not apply to state action; the LADG closes this gap.

AGG: claims and deadlines

In the event of a violation of the prohibition on discrimination, the employer is obliged to compensate the resulting damage, unless the employer is not responsible for the breach of duty (§ 15 Abs. 1 AGG). For non-material damage, reasonable monetary compensation (Entschädigung) can be claimed (§ 15 Abs. 2 AGG). Claims under § 15 Abs. 1 or 2 must be „innerhalb einer Frist von zwei Monaten schriftlich geltend gemacht werden“ ("asserted in writing within a period of two months"), unless the parties to a collective agreement have agreed otherwise (§ 15 Abs. 4 AGG). A lawsuit for compensation under § 15 AGG must be filed within three months after the claim has been asserted in writing (§ 61b Abs. 1 ArbGG). In civil-law dealings, the person discriminated against can demand removal of the impairment and, where there is a risk of repetition, an injunction, as well as damages and compensation (§ 21 Abs. 1 and 2 AGG); claims must be asserted within two months, and a later assertion is only possible if the person discriminated against was prevented through no fault of their own (§ 21 Abs. 5 AGG); claims arising from unerlaubte Handlung (tort) remain unaffected (§ 21 Abs. 3 AGG).

AGG reform 2026 (draft)

The Bundeskabinett (federal cabinet) adopted a draft law on 06.05.2026. Per the BMBFSFJ's press release, the deadline ("Präklusionsfrist", preclusion period) is to be extended from two to four months; protection against discrimination on the ground of gender is to be broadened, and protection against sexual harassment is to be extended to outside the workplace as well (for example, in the housing market); an independent Schlichtungsstelle (conciliation body) at the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency) and intervention rights for the Antidiskriminierungsstelle in court proceedings are planned; the "Kirchenklausel" (church clause) is to be adjusted. On the status in the Bundestag and on entry into force: no confirmed information is available for this (another source mentions an ongoing parliamentary procedure with entry into force "during the course of 2026"; this is not officially confirmed).

LADG Berlin

Per the Senatsverwaltung, the Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz (LADG) entered into force on 21.06.2020, the first law of its kind in Germany; it closes a legal gap regarding action by public authorities. It applies „unmittelbar für alle öffentlichen Stellen des Landes Berlin“ ("directly to all public bodies of the State of Berlin"); those named include the Senate and district administrations, schools, universities, the BVG (Berlin public transport operator), the police, the courts, and the public prosecutor's offices, insofar as they perform administrative tasks. Protected characteristics per the Senatsverwaltung: gender, ethnic origin, racist attribution, antisemitic attribution, language, religion, belief, disability, chronic illness, age, sexual identity, gender identity, and social status. For bringing a judicial claim, „eine Frist von einem Jahr“ ("a deadline of one year") applies, beginning at the end of the year in which the violation occurred. Where discrimination facts are shown to be plausible, the defendant public body must prove that no discrimination occurred (burden of proof). Recognized anti-discrimination associations can bring structural Verbandsklagen (association lawsuits) or act as Prozessstandschafter (parties acting on another's behalf in litigation). According to unconfirmed information, § 8 LADG governs damages and compensation; the wording of the statute itself was not confirmed.

Advice centers in Berlin

LADG-Ombudsstelle (LADG ombuds office): supports and advises „kostenfrei bei der Durchsetzung ihrer Rechte“ ("free of charge in asserting your rights"); telephone 030 9013 3456; office hours per the subpage: Tuesday 9:00–13:00, Wednesday 13:00–17:00 (open phone counseling), Thursday 12:00–16:00 (by appointment); languages: German, English, German Sign Language, Leichte Sprache (plain language); address discrepancy — see "Achtung". ADNB des TBB: Richard-Sorge-Str. 13, 10249 Berlin; telephone 030 / 55 06 59 05; open in-person counseling Tuesday 15:00–17:00, Thursday 10:00–12:00 by phone at 0157 8510 6697; languages per the page: German, English, Spanish, Hebrew, Romanian, Turkish (another source additionally names French); cases are documented „anonymisiert“ ("anonymized"). Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency): Glinkastraße 24, 10117 Berlin; telephone (030) 18 55 - 18 65; email [email protected] (counseling hotline 0800 546 546 5 according to unconfirmed information, Mon–Thu 9:00–15:00; not confirmed on the contact page). Further Berlin contact points per the Senatsverwaltung (Meldestellen, reporting offices): Each One Teach One (EOTO) e.V., Togostraße 76, 13351 Berlin, tel. +49 30 51 30 41 63 (for Black, African, and Afro-diasporic people); RIAS Berlin (antisemitism), tel. +49 30 817 985 821; Dosta (anti-Gypsyism/Antiziganismus), Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 19, 10585 Berlin, tel. +49 30 610 811 020; Meldestelle antiasiatischer Rassismus (reporting office for anti-Asian racism), Trautenaustraße 5, 10717 Berlin, tel. +49 15563 507349; L-SUPPORT e.V. (hostility toward lesbian and queer people), Potsdamer Str. 139, 10783 Berlin, tel. +49 30 215 75 74; ADAS (protection against discrimination in schools and Kitas), Rheinstr. 45/46, Aufgang C, 12161 Berlin, tel. +49 30 308 798 46, free of charge; Koordinierung der Berliner Register (coordination office of the Berlin registers), Sewanstraße 178, 10319 Berlin, tel. +49 1590 1307803.

Gaps

Not documented: the wording of the LADG (§§ 2, 6, 8, 9), entry into force of the AGG reform, application to federal authorities and to the Jobcenter in Berlin, discrimination based on residence status, contact points for disability and age, counseling in further languages.