The German government approves an increase in the minimum wage
The German cabinet in Berlin decided to raise the minimum wage in two stages:
- As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage will be €13.90 per hour.
- As of January 1, 2027, it will rise again by 70 cents to reach 14.60 euros per hour.
The decision clarified that this increase doesn’t require additional approval from Bundestag or the Council of States, as it’s based on the recommendation of the Minimum Wage Committee, which includes representatives of employers and workers, and which came up with this proposal after lengthy discussions last June.
It should be noted that the current minimum wage is 12.82 Euros, while left-wing parties such as the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have been demanding that it be raised to 15 euros next year, which has been met with criticism from employers’ organizations who considered that the political pressure on this issue is too great.
German Labor Minister Bärbel Bass (SPD) said the minimum wage increase represents a success story for millions of hardworking people in Germany, stressing that the increase is an important step towards greater fairness and recognition for those who keep our country moving day after day.
According to estimates by the German Trade Union Confederation, around six million employees will benefit from this increase.
