Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) explicitly does not rule out a statutory increase in the minimum wage. If the Minimum Wage Commission “lands at 13 euros” she said in an interview with the newspapers of the Funke Media Group (Sunday editions), “that would be difficult to explain.”
“If the trade unions and employers agree on 14.95 euros, because perhaps they don’t want to symbolically reach 15 euros, there will be no political intervention due to the missing five cents” she added.
When asked where she sees a majority for a political increase, Bas replied: “That must be discussed in the coalition committee in case of doubt.” The minister continued: “If the Minimum Wage Commission takes its own rules seriously, which I assume, the minimum wage in 2026 will land somewhere around 15 euros.”
Bas dismissed concerns that an increase in the minimum wage would cost jobs. “Horror scenarios have already been painted at the introduction of the minimum wage and in the end, we had more employment” she said. “Of course, a higher minimum wage burdens some sectors. On the other hand, it pulls people out of the basic security system.