After months of public debate about higher wages for nurses, a new collective agreement will apply next year. For many employees, this means higher salaries in several steps. Now it is the turn of politics.
Unions and employers have agreed on minimum conditions for care for the elderly associated with significant wage increases. If the agreed agreements come into force, a qualified geriatric nurse will receive at least 3,137 euros per month from 2023, said the Verdi union. The provisional wage result negotiated with the Federal Association of Employers in the Care Sector should be extended to the entire care sector by the Federal Ministry of Labor via the Employee Posting Act.
Verdi called the result an important step towards a comprehensive collective agreement. The degree should make the nursing profession more attractive again. Verdi federal board member Sylvia Bühler said: "The proposed minimum wages are impressive – they are a significant increase compared to the previous minimum wage for care workers."
Put an end to wage dumping
However, the collective agreement is not expected to come into force until July 1st next year. Until then, there is enough time to meet the requirements stipulated by the Posted Workers Act. The minimum wages would be increased in three steps. From January 2023 there will be at least 18.50 euros per hour, which results in a 39-hour week 3137 euros per month.
Nursing assistants without training should receive at least 14.15 euros per hour, with a one to two year training at least 15 euros. "That is a decent minimum level, which of course leaves better collective agreements untouched," explained Bühler. This will put a stop to wage dumping, especially by commercial providers. In addition, Verdi and the employer agreed on a vacation allowance of 500 euros for full-time employees and annual vacation of at least 28 days.
In addition, the social partners want the same pay in East and West Germany from the start. Bühler called on the commercial care companies to give up their resistance to a nationwide collective bargaining agreement.
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