This is a common situation and it is very important for you from a legal perspective, because obtaining an Arbeitszeugnis (work reference / employment certificate) is your legal right in Germany under § 109 of the Gewerbeordnung (GewO – Trade Regulation Act).

What should you do if the employer refuses to give you an Arbeitszeugnis?

1. Make a formal request in writing

Submit your request in writing (preferably by registered mail or by e-mail with a request for confirmation of receipt).

Ask specifically for a qualified Arbeitszeugnis (qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis) and clearly state the exact dates of the period during which you worked for the company.

2. Set a reasonable deadline

Give your employer a reasonable deadline (for example, two weeks) to respond and issue the reference.

In your letter, you can refer to your legal right under § 109 GewO.

3. If the refusal continues

Send a final reminder (Mahnung) stating that you intend to take legal action if your request is not honoured.

You can add a sentence such as:
“Sollten Sie das Arbeitszeugnis nicht innerhalb von 14 Tagen ausstellen, werde ich rechtliche Schritte einleiten.”

4. Going to the labour court (Arbeitsgericht)

If you still do not receive the Arbeitszeugnis after your reminder, you can file a claim with the labour court (Arbeitsgericht) to oblige the employer to issue the reference.

The procedure is usually simple and low-cost (often no court fees for the initial claim and, in many cases, you do not need a lawyer at the very beginning).

In practice, courts often decide quickly in favour of the employee, because the right to an Arbeitszeugnis is clear and well established.

5. Contact a trade union or an employment lawyer

If you are a member of a trade union (Gewerkschaft), contact them as soon as possible – they usually provide free support in such matters.

You can also consult a specialised employment lawyer if necessary.

Sample formal request

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit bitte ich Sie, mir ein qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis für meine Tätigkeit in Ihrem Unternehmen im Zeitraum von [Datum] bis [Datum] auszustellen und mir dieses innerhalb von 14 Tagen zuzusenden.

Gemäß § 109 GewO habe ich darauf einen gesetzlichen Anspruch.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

[Your Name]

Conclusion

Your right to an Arbeitszeugnis is guaranteed by law, and your employer is obliged to provide it.

Start with a written request, then send a reminder, and, if necessary, take your case to the labour court.

In many cases, the issue is resolved quickly once the employer realises how clear and explicit your legal right actually is.

The team of writers and editors of the website strives to provide accurate information based on in-depth research and consultation of multiple sources when preparing articles. Nevertheless, errors may occur or certain details may be incomplete or not fully verified. For this reason, please regard the information contained in the articles as an initial, non-binding point of reference and always contact the competent authorities or professional bodies to obtain confirmed and legally binding information.