Good News for Workers: Minimum Wage Has Increased Here

Germany’s Chancellor has followed through with one of his electoral promises and raised the nation’s minimum wage: now, the country will boast the fifth-highest minimum wage in the European Union!

“Many citizens of our country work a lot but earn little — that must change,” states Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “For me, one of the most important laws and a question of respect.”

Currently, at €9.82 ($10.40), the minimum wage will reach €12 ($12.90) by October of this year. This increase translates into €400 ($423.51) per month, reaching a monthly income of €1,700 ($1,800). Germany introduced a national minimum wage in 2015. Unions and politicians alike firmly believe that raising the minimum wage to €12 an hour will curb poverty across the country. All workers over 18 will benefit from the raise, including seasonal workers, wherever they are from, with the exception of apprentices, workers part of job-promotion schemes, long-term unemployed people the first six months after reentering the labor market, and independent workers. Germany has one of the highest minimum wages in Europe, placing fifth behind Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.