Germany: German minimum wage will be raised to 9.19 Euros per hour from 1 January 2019

A statutory minimum was introduced in Germany with effect as of 1 January 2015. It will now be increased for the second time since then, from currently 8.84 Euros per hour to 9.19 Euros per hour from 1 January 2019. From 1 January 2020, a further increase to 9.35 Euros per hour will take place. The statutory minimum wage is generally applicable to all employees in all sectors of business, with very few exceptions: Employees under 18, trainees and interns are currently exempted from the regulation.

Aside from the statutory minimum wage, there are special regulations and collective bargaining agreements within certain sectors, e.g. the construction sector. Most of these regulations provide for a wage above the statutory minimum wage that has to be paid to the employees within the specific sector.