Germany: construction industry wants to erase west/east difference within 9 years after granting a 3.2% increase in the former and 4% in the latter

After a marathon 24-hour negotiation, on Friday, April 5, the construction social partners – the IG BAU union, the ZDB confederation of German construction SMEs (Zentralverband des Deutsches Baugewerbe) and the HDB Construction Industry Federation (Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie) – announced that they had reached an agreement increasing the salary of nearly 734,000 employees (HDB figures).  Even though activity is down, the German construction industry is doing well, which is why the IG BAU was able to secure wage increases amounting to 3.2 (west) and 4% (east).  Equal pay between the two sides of the country was at the center of the debate.  The union managed to squeeze out total leveling over nine years.  (Ref.  130228)
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

3.2-4% increase over 13 months. German construction social partners agreed on a 3.2 increase for the 549,000 employees in western Germany and 4% for the 185,000 in the East on May 1 and for 12 months. For apprentices, whose remuneration will increase proportionately, a new ‘information clause’ will be introduced. It will forced the training companies to let their apprentices know, 3 months before their apprenticeship is over, whether or not they will be hired after they graduate.

After one af

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
The major trends of 2026
New regulations coming into force, economic uncertainty, evolving skills requirements… More than ever, the HR function will play a strategic role within organizations in 2026. mind HR...
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
Argentina: labour law reform debate kicks off
Argentina’s Congress has begun debating President Javier Milei’s highly contentious labour reform package, which includes proposals to scrap overtime pay, curb the right to strike and give...
3 February 2026
France: Uber ordered to pay €1.7 billion for undeclared work
According to the publication Revue21, the employer contributions collection agency (URSSAF) has sent a 142-page document to the ride-hailing platform Uber demanding the sum of €1.7 billion...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
2
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
3
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 2026
4
Italy: new generational renewal agreement penned at UniCredit
The agreement signed on 30 December by UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest banking group, with the Fabi, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca and Unisin trade unions aims to continue generational...
5
France: social partner talks extend far beyond contractual terminations
After a false start on 3 December, French social partners resumed talks on 7 January 2026 on potential changes to the unemployment insurance agreement, including the rules governing compensation...
12 January 2026
6
EU: banking sector social partners commit to combating violence and harassment
On 15 January, the trade union federation UNI Europa Finance and three employers’ associations in the banking sector signed a joint statement on preventing violence and harassment in the...