“Work must be worthwhile”
Heil announces significant minimum wage increase
4/9/2023 3:33 am
In the years since its introduction, the minimum wage has been increased several times. If you want to have a nice life, it is still far from enough – especially not in times of inflation. Another increase is expected next year.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil has announced a significant minimum wage increase for 2024. “Work must be worthwhile,” Heil told the “Bild am Sonntag” according to a preliminary report. “That’s why there will be another minimum wage increase next January. I expect a significant increase.” The Minimum Wage Commission will make a proposal to him in the summer. Heil justified a noticeable increase in the minimum wage with the high inflation and ordinary tariff increases, which would be reflected in the setting of the minimum wage.
In Germany there has been a general statutory minimum wage since January 1, 2015. It is the lowest wage limit for almost all employees. Excluded are groups of people such as trainees, long-term unemployed or some interns. When it was introduced in 2015, the statutory minimum wage was EUR 8.50 gross per hour. On October 1, 2022, it rose over several stages to EUR 12.00.
In addition, the SPD politician wants to improve the working conditions of parcel couriers and enforce a ban on parcels over 20 kilograms. “Parcels that weigh more than 20 kilograms will have to be delivered by two people in the future.” This is about the health of people who make our everyday lives easier with their work and keep the country running. Heil also wants to tighten the regulations for medium-heavy parcels. In the future, there will be “a labeling requirement for parcels over ten kilograms, so that the courier can see immediately what he can expect.” The implementation is to take place via the amendment to the Postal Act, which the Ministry of Economic Affairs is currently working on. “My company will introduce occupational safety measures there,” says Heil. Heil expects Economics Minister Robert Habeck to present the draft before the end of this year.
Better working conditions should also apply to cleaning staff in federal authorities in the future. “In my ministry, the cleaning staff no longer have to work at night. I want to make this the standard in all federal agencies. It’s good for everyone to see who is cleaning up their own dirt,” said Heil. Currently, cleaning staff often have to work at night. “Often with consequences for health and family and with the result that you don’t see them anymore. And that their work is less appreciated because it supposedly happens as if by magic. But it’s people who scrub at very stressful times. “