The statutory minimum wage has existed since 2015. At that time it was 8.50 euros an hour. Currently 12 euros are paid. Now the minimum wage is to be raised again.
The Minimum Wage Commission, made up of employer and employee representatives, intends to present its proposal for the new level of the statutory minimum wage next Monday in Berlin. The traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP had raised it by law from 10.45 euros to 12 euros as of October 1, 2022. The Commission is now to propose the next increase on January 1, 2024.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) had expressed the expectation that there would be a significant increase and referred to the high inflation and wage increases. Social organizations had demanded a sharp increase to 14 euros and more, employers warned of “unrealistic heights”.
The statutory minimum wage has existed in Germany since 2015. At the start it was 8.50 euros an hour and has since been increased several times. According to the minimum wage law, a commission made up of three employer and union representatives, two scientists and one chairperson must make a proposal for the future minimum wage every two years. The federal government usually makes this binding by ordinance.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 5.8 million employees who previously earned less than 12 euros an hour benefited from the last increase last autumn.
Source: Stern
