About 100 days to the German federal election, the issue of introducing universal minimum wage has been revived. All political parties are now in favor of the introduction of minimum wage but not under the same schemes. Employers keep cautioning that, if too high, this minimum wage could have harmful effects on employment. Meanwhile, a test is being done in the hairdressing industry and closely monitored by all the parties. Indeed, this sector, known for its extremely low wages, is going to introduce, by August 2015, minimum pay of €8.5/hour across the country – precisely the rate claimed by the social-democratic opposition and the trade unions. A number of experts already sat that hidden labor will go up and numerous jobs will be cut. (Ref. 130406)
Parties bidding up on minimum wage. Unsurprisingly, die Linke, the radical left-wing party, presented the highest claim. In the election program revealed on June 15, it recommends introducing universal minimum wage in the amount of €10 gross per hour, and then €12 by 2017. Peer Steinbrück, the social democratic candidate, wants to introduce statutory minimum wage in the amount of €8.5/hour. Long opposed to minimum wage in general, Angela Merkel’s party (CDU/CSU) is now open to sectoral mini
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