On October 28, 2024, a joint statement by the German Trade Union Federation and DAX 40 highlighted concerns over the confusion stemming from BAFA's postponement of LkSG due diligence report reviews, urging clearer regulatory guidance to ensure responsible and ethical corporate sustainability practices.

An alliance of 30 major German companies, including key DAX constituents, has launched a public campaign warning against far-right extremism ahead of upcoming European elections. The initiative calls on 1.7 million employees to participate in the electoral process and underscores the importance of European unity for prosperity and inclusive labor integration.

The new DAX 30 ESG index introduces a rigorous responsible-investing approach, excluding companies that do not meet international standards on human rights, labor, environmental protection, and anti-corruption. This methodological update aims to drive sustainable and ethical investing by filtering out firms involved in controversial areas such as weapons, tobacco, and other ethically problematic sectors.

On June 21, 2023, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) filed a complaint with the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) against major automobile manufacturers—companies that are key components of the DAX index—for failing to meet human rights due diligence obligations in their supply chains, amid concerns over forced labor in Xinjiang.

Deutsche Börse has reformed the rules governing the DAX index by expanding it from 30 to 40 constituents and implementing stricter financial and corporate governance requirements. The new criteria include positive EBITDA mandates, obligatory audited annual reports and quarterly notifications, as well as the requirement for an operational audit committee. These reforms aim to improve transparency and accountability among Germany's leading companies, although the decision not to exclude firms involved in controversial weapons slightly dampens the overall positive impact.