A compromise reached by Germany’s Pflegekommission (Care Commission), comprising union and employer representatives, has secured incremental increases to the legally mandated minimum wage for caregivers, but has drawn criticism from labor advocates who deem the adjustments inadequate and a reflection of systemic undervaluation of the profession. The agreement, finalized after protracted negotiations, stipulates increases of 2.6 percent in July 2026 and a further 2.6 percent rise in July 2027, spanning a 27-month period.
Sylvia Bühler, a board member of the Verdi union, voiced disappointment, stating the commission’s objective was to align the minimum care wage with entry-level salaries within the public sector tariff agreement, the TVöD. “Employers were simply unwilling to agree to this” Bühler stated, emphasizing that the resulting wage levels remain significantly short of what would constitute fair compensation for the demanding and socially vital work performed by caregivers.
Further exacerbating concerns, Bühler revealed that the union was forced to actively resist proposed provisions that would have resulted in a reduction of existing protections. The legally binding nature of the Pflege Mindestlohn-representing the only enforceable wage standard in the absence of negotiated contracts- compelled Verdi to reluctantly accept the compromise, a decision reportedly made “with a heavy heart.
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) characterized the agreement as a “positive signal” highlighting improvements in caregiver compensation in recent years. She asserted that employees in care facilities already receive, on average, substantially higher wages than those stipulated by the Pflegekommission, often reaching tariff levels. This assertion has been met with skepticism from labor groups, who argue that while wage increases have occurred, a significant disparity remains between average facility wages and the minimum legally mandated, potentially leaving lower-paid caregivers vulnerable and exacerbating inequalities within the sector.
The Pflegekommission’s recommendations detail the specific wage adjustments, with Pflegehilfskräfte (care assistants) seeing an increase from the current 16.10 euros to 16.52 euros per hour in July 2026 and 16.95 euros in July 2027. Caregivers with at least one year of training will earn 17.80 euros per hour from July 2026, rising to 18.26 euros in July 2027. The minimum wage for registered nurses will increase from the current 20.50 euros to 21.03 euros in July 2026 and 21.58 euros in July 2027.
The agreement, while representing a marginal improvement, underscores the ongoing political challenge of adequately compensating a critical workforce facing persistent staff shortages and an aging population, with critics arguing that the current trajectory falls short of a truly sustainable solution for the German care system.