Germany: employers and unions call on the Bundestag to ‘correct’ the bill raising the minimum wage to €12

On 23 February, Germany’s chief executive body, the Federal Cabinet (Bundeskabinett) endorsed the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil’s (SPD) bill raising the minimum wage to €12 per hour by 01 October 2022. The new ruling coalition has also approved an increase in the legal ceiling for mini-jobs (maximum of 15 hours per week) from €450 to €520 per month. While the German employers' federation (BDA) is considering challenging this legislative increase in the minimum wage, the trade unions have called on parliamentarians to halt the expansion of mini-jobs that lies ahead.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Throughout the course of his bid to secure the office of Chancellor, the Social Democrat candidate Olaf Scholz had promised to raise the minimum wage to €12 an hour as soon as possible. This promise has been kept. Adopted by cabinet on 23 February, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil’s first bill provides for an ‘extraordinary legislative increase’ in the legal minimum wage. Currently standing at €9.82 gross per hour, the minimum wage will rise to €10.45 per hour on 01 July 2022, in line with what wa

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
France: social partners’ conference on work, employment, and retirement sets out roadmap
Until the summer, French social partners from both the private and public sectors will hold talks on labour, employment and pensions, with the aim of developing shared positions to inform public...
ENI incorporates just transition and AI into global agreement
On 13 January, Italian energy group ENI renewed its global agreement on international industrial relations, corporate social responsibility and the just transition with Italian unions CGIL, CISL...
5 February 2026
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
2026 TRENDS — Social dialogue, a major challenge in the deployment of AI in companies
mind RH is analysing the trends that will shape 2026. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a force that goes far beyond efficiency gains and productivity improvements. It is reshaping tasks...
4 February 2026
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
Germany: government seeks to facilitate immigration of skilled Indian workers
During a visit to India earlier this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the strategic importance of attracting Indian workers to Germany, signing a series of cooperation agreements...
2
France: 2026 budget expected to maintain employer contribution relief
On 19 January 2026, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu decided to invoke Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass France's 2026 budget without a vote in the National Assembly. Three days...
3
EU: Cyprus unveils its six-month presidency programme
Cyprus has set out its priorities for its six-month presidency of the Council of the EU. On the social front, the centre-right government will focus on the Union of Skills, which aims to boost...
4
Informal economy and slow wage growth hamper decent work, ILO says
The International Labour Organisation published its Employment ans Social Trends 2026 on 14 January. It anticipates unemployment stabilising in 2026 and employment growth of 1%, driven by...
5
France: social partners’ conference on work, employment, and retirement sets out roadmap
Until the summer, French social partners from both the private and public sectors will hold talks on labour, employment and pensions, with the aim of developing shared positions to inform public...