Minister of Labor’s Residence Rejects Agricultural Minister’s Proposal for Seasonal Workers’ Exemption from Minimum Wage
The residence of German Federal Minister of Labor, Bärbel Bas, has rejected a proposal by Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer, to allow exemptions from the minimum wage for seasonal workers.
According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, the proposal would constitute an unlawful form of discrimination, as there is no valid reason to justify the reduction of the minimum wage for seasonal workers. The spokesperson referred to the coalition agreement, which does not provide for the creation of an exception to the minimum wage for seasonal workers. The official also highlighted the general function of the minimum wage, stating that it is an absolute wage floor, applicable to all employment relationships and designed to ensure a minimum level of worker protection and fair remuneration.
The mere fact that a particular job is not subject to social insurance does not justify a lower wage, the spokesperson emphasized. Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer, had previously expressed support for the demand of the President of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, to reduce the minimum wage for seasonal workers.