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2d ago

Germany Confirms Two-Stage Minimum Wage Hikes, Excludes Seasonal Farm Exemptions

Following a unanimous recommendation by the independent commission, authorities have cited constitutional equality in barring carve-outs for short-term agricultural workers.

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Overview

  • The minimum wage will rise from €12.82 to €13.90 on January 1, 2026, and to €14.60 on January 1, 2027.
  • Statistisches Bundesamt data indicate that up to 6.6 million jobs (17 percent) will benefit in 2026 with a collective earnings increase of up to €400 million and 8.3 million jobs (21 percent) will see gains totaling around €430 million in 2027.
  • Women and East German employees are poised to see wage uplifts in about 20 percent of roles, compared with 14 percent for men and 16 percent in West Germany.
  • Hospitality stands out with 56 percent of its workforce affected by the first rise, while 43 percent of jobs in agriculture, forestry and fishing are also impacted.
  • A legal review by the Federal Agriculture Ministry concluded that constitutional equality rules out any exceptions for seasonal agricultural workers.