[Germany] 6.6 million people will benefit from €12 minimum wage

A new study has revealed that Germany's new €12 minimum wage will benefit more than 6.6 million people when it comes into force on October 1, The Local reports.

Currently, around 6.64 million workers in the country earn less than €12 gross per hour, according to new statistics published by the Hans Böckler Foundation Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), a trade union-linked research foundation. 

Of those now benefiting from the increase, 2.55 million are in full-time employment, according to the WSI. Nationwide - just under one in ten full-time workers - and around 20 per cent of part-time workers earn less than €12 per hour. Among ‘mini-jobbers’, the figure is reportedly as high as 80 per cent.

Under a flagship policy of the Social Democrats (SPD), Germany’s national minimum wage will increase from €10.45 to €12 per hour on October 1. The last increase was earlier this year on July 1. 

On September 27, Stefan Körzell - an executive board member of the German Trade Unions Federation (DGB) - described the move as “a ray of hope in these difficult times” that will help low-paid workers handle the rising cost of living. 

But the DGB said more controls were needed to ensure that workers actually receive the statutory minimum wage. According to the trade unions, employees across numerous sectors are currently earning less than the legal minimum. 

“The federal government must significantly increase the staffing of the responsible authority, Finanzkontrolle Schwarzarbeit,” Mr Körzell said.

In addition to the wage hike, unions are also reportedly calling for further relief from the government to help cushion the impact of the rising cost of living. 

In particular, they are advocating for an energy price flat rate and an energy price cap that could be paid for by skimming off the “excess profits of the large energy and mineral oil companies”, Mr Körzell said. 

On September 28, the DGB began running information campaigns on the minimum wage increase at more than 230 railway stations and marketplaces throughout Germany.

Source: The Local

(Links via original reporting)

A new study has revealed that Germany's new €12 minimum wage will benefit more than 6.6 million people when it comes into force on October 1, The Local reports.

Currently, around 6.64 million workers in the country earn less than €12 gross per hour, according to new statistics published by the Hans Böckler Foundation Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), a trade union-linked research foundation. 

Of those now benefiting from the increase, 2.55 million are in full-time employment, according to the WSI. Nationwide - just under one in ten full-time workers - and around 20 per cent of part-time workers earn less than €12 per hour. Among ‘mini-jobbers’, the figure is reportedly as high as 80 per cent.

Under a flagship policy of the Social Democrats (SPD), Germany’s national minimum wage will increase from €10.45 to €12 per hour on October 1. The last increase was earlier this year on July 1. 

On September 27, Stefan Körzell - an executive board member of the German Trade Unions Federation (DGB) - described the move as “a ray of hope in these difficult times” that will help low-paid workers handle the rising cost of living. 

But the DGB said more controls were needed to ensure that workers actually receive the statutory minimum wage. According to the trade unions, employees across numerous sectors are currently earning less than the legal minimum. 

“The federal government must significantly increase the staffing of the responsible authority, Finanzkontrolle Schwarzarbeit,” Mr Körzell said.

In addition to the wage hike, unions are also reportedly calling for further relief from the government to help cushion the impact of the rising cost of living. 

In particular, they are advocating for an energy price flat rate and an energy price cap that could be paid for by skimming off the “excess profits of the large energy and mineral oil companies”, Mr Körzell said. 

On September 28, the DGB began running information campaigns on the minimum wage increase at more than 230 railway stations and marketplaces throughout Germany.

Source: The Local

(Links via original reporting)