If the SPD leader has his way, employers will soon have to pay higher salaries to their employees who are paid the minimum wage.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has called for an increase in the minimum wage in Germany. The minimum wage commission must propose “a significant increase” next time, Klingbeil told the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten”. A minimum wage of 12.41 euros has been in effect since January 1st. At the beginning of 2025, the lower wage limit set by the state and proposed by the Minimum Wage Commission will rise to 12.82 euros.
“It still annoys me to this day that employers unilaterally blocked a larger increase in the minimum wage last time, even though inflation would have required this,” said Klingbeil. The minimum wage commission of employers and employees decided on the increases until 2025 last year. For the first time, the union side was outvoted by the independent commission chairwoman, who voted with the employers.
14 euros or more required
The Greens, trade unions and social associations had also called for reforms to the Minimum Wage Commission procedure and a higher wage floor. They pointed out that the minimum wage in every EU country should be based on 60 percent of the median wage. Their demands were 14 euros or more. Klingbeil had also already advocated for a more significant increase than had now been decided.
The employers, on the other hand, had emphasized the flexibility of the member states in implementing the EU requirements – and insisted that the minimum wage commission be left untouched. The government had previously brought the minimum wage to 12 euros by law in a one-off step.
There were also calls for more fundamental changes. The DGB called for a reform of the minimum wage commission – so that the union or employer side can no longer be overruled.
Source: Stern
