Union and the SPD argue again over the minimum wage

Two weeks before the planned start of the black and red government, CDU/CSU strictly rejected the future coalition partner SPD to the minimum wage. SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch had pointed out that 15 euros minimum wages could also be reached by law. CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann then turned against a “political minimum wage”. The parliamentary managing director of the Union faction, Thorsten Frei (CDU), said: “We found a good regulation in the coalition agreement. We should also orientate this.” The CSU also turned against the new social democratic move.

As of January 1, the lower wage limit had been increased to EUR 12.82 per hour. In their election program, the Social Democrats had announced 15 euros as one of their core promises. With the Union, however, the SPD in the coalition agreement could only agree that the minimum wage commission should “orientate itself to 60 percent of the gross wage of fully concerned”. “In this way, a minimum wage of 15 euros can be reached in 2026,” states the draft coalition contract.

Miersch had said in the “Table.Today” podcast with a view to the independent minimum wage commission: “I assume that this commission will actually come to this result (of 15 euros).” The CDU boss Friedrich Merz, intended as a chancellor, also said that he was going to assume it. “But in other cases we have already proven that if this commission does not act accordingly, for example, that we can then work legislative.”

Miersch thus alluded to 2022 when the traffic light government from the SPD, the Greens and FDP increased the lower wage limit to 12 euros. The economy considered this to be harmful, which then foamed the opposition Union.

Frei told the newspapers of the Bavarian media group: “An as strong and independent minimum wage commission has proven itself.” Basically, it is the goal that wages become the rule again. Recently, the employment relationship was only regulated by a collective agreement for around 49 percent of employees in Germany (2023). CSU general secretary Martin Huber told the newspapers: “The minimum wage commission remains politically independent. The amount of the minimum wage is determined by the Commission.”

The chairman of the CDU employee wing, Dennis Radtke, told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”: “Actually, one should assume that an SPD general secretary can read and understand both the rules of procedure of the minimum wage commission and the coalition agreement.” It is “obvious that the commission itself will crack the 15-euro threshold”.

Linnemann told the newspapers of the Bavarian media group: “I understand the pressure that the SPD has through the membership survey. But we still have to stick to the coalition agreement.” A minimum wage of 15 euros can be reached, but the Commission will decide whether it will come.

At the SPD, a member vote will run through the new coalition agreement by April 29. The day before, the CDU wants to vote on it at a small party conference. The election of CDU boss Merz as the new Federal Chancellor in the Bundestag is planned for May 6th.