The head of the services union Verdi, Frank Werneke, expects the minimum wage to be at 15 euros from next year onwards. If the legally binding minimum wage remains below this mark in 2026, it would be a “severe loss of face for the federal government” said Werneke to the “Handelsblatt” (Thursday edition). The Union and SPD hold, according to their coalition agreement, a value of 15 euros next year as “achievable” but want the decision to be left to the independent minimum wage commission of employer and employee representatives. In the case that the commission, which has to make a decision by the end of June, remains below the 15 euros, “from my point of view, the federal government is obliged to step in” said Werneke. In the opinion of the head of the union, the labor market and social policy chapters in the coalition agreement are “not a major success.” For example, he misses sustainable solutions for financing the increasing health and care expenses. If necessary, the Verdi members would rather be willing to finance moderate increases in social security contributions than accept cuts in benefits that would then have to be balanced privately. The union leader also opposes plans to switch the daily maximum working hours to a weekly basis, which he considers a “step backwards in labor market and health policy” that they will not accept. The likely next black-red federal government wants to first hold a dialogue with the social partners on the topic.
Verdi Union Demands 15 Euro Minimum Wage Starting Next Year
