Income: Why the minimum wage remains 40 cents below 15 euros

The SPD Minister of Labor is to be noticed. “I can live with it well,” says Bärbel Bas. The minimum wage commission decided a few hours earlier 13.90 euros from 2026 and 14.60 euros from 2027. 15 euros, as required by the SPD, will not exist so soon. What is behind the decision and behind Bas’ relief and how the future threshold should work:

How does the lower wage limit increase compared to today?

Of EUR 12.82 by 1.78 euros in the power amplifier in one and a half years. Andrea Kocsis from the Verdi board, also a member of the minimum wage commission, calculates: “This corresponds to an increase of 13.9 percent.” Full -time employees with a minimum wage receive around 190 euros more gross for 40 hours a week from January 2026. In the second year there is an increase of 310 euros gross compared to today. In relation to the year, this calculates a total amount of EUR 3,700 gross.

Why doesn’t the minimum wage rise higher?

This follows clear criteria: As part of an overall assessment, the body with top representatives of employers and unions as well as an independent chairman has checked how high the minimum wage must be for “adequate minimum protection” of the employees and for “fair and functioning competitive conditions” – and that without “endangering”, according to the commission. The prescribed consideration of the labor market and the economy have a dampening effect. Germany threatens the third year of recession in a row.

How do the 14.60 euros come about?

According to the commission’s rules of procedure, the development of wages and the middle wages in Germany were included. According to EU requirements, 60 percent of the middle income in full-time employees is one of the minimum wage standards, because this is the official threshold of poverty risk. Commission chief Christiane Schönefeld explains: “Only with forecasts you get a value of 15 euros 2026 – this is not our task.” According to collective agreements, the previous income development reported by the Federal Statistical Office is included.

Can violent reactions from the SPD be expected now?

Initial reactions were positive, although the Social Democrats have made an election campaign for 15 euros and the Federal Ministry of Labor again lead the new government. Department head Bärbel Bas, who wants to be elected as the new boss in addition to Lars Klingbeil a few hours after the minimum wage decision at an SPD party conference, does not announce an implementation by regulation two hours after the agreement. Group Vice Dagmar Schmidt says: “The minimum wage commission unanimously decided – that is a good signal and shows that the social partnership works in Germany. The result is to be respected.” The Chairman of the Working Committee Bernd Rützel speaks of a “really acceptable result” in the “Augsburger Allgemeine” (Saturday). BAS says: “Of course we wanted more for the people in this country, but it is important to me that there is now a minimum lnohn increase.”

How do unions and employers advertise the decision?

DGB board member and negotiator Stefan Körzell speaks of a “achieved result” and recalls that some employers would have preferred to do without an increase. After all, the union side enforced a total of 13.9 percent. Körzell’s counterpart The employer, Steffen Kampeter, says: “The cooperation between employers and unions works, even if it requires painful compromises for both sides.” This is “a signal against patronizing and interfering with politics in the work of the minimum wage commission”.

“A creeping loss of simple jobs” fears the labor market expert of the employer -related institute of the German economy (IW), Hagen Lesch. Veronika Grimm certified the economy in the newspapers of the Funke media group Realism. “The attempt by politics, by setting prices that actually have to arise in markets, forcing the economy in a desired direction must fail,” warns Grimm.

What about prices, for example in hairdressing salons and in rolls?

Overall, Körzell also admits that the minimum wage can affect prices. But: “We don’t see the risk of a wage price spiral.” Kampeter warns of long-term wage price effects. The Central Association of the German Bakery Hands sees the moderate increase as an important signal. “Nevertheless, we cannot give the all -clear,” said managing director Friedemann Berg. “The current increase alone is difficult for many companies to do.” The central association of the German hairdressing trade is satisfied. “We have to ensure that the statutory minimum wage does not become a permanent scale through better work conditions and fair wage structures themselves,” said President Manuela Härtelt-Dören.

Applications SPD party conference 27.6.-29.6. (On the minimum wage p. 73 ff.) BDA for the minimum wage