Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining agreements concluded in 2013 provided nominal pay increases on the
same high level as in 2012. On average, negotiated wages increased by 2.7% in 2013, ranging
from 2.3% in the retail industry, up to 3.5% for workers in the energy and water supply industry.
With an inflation rate of 1.5% in 2013, collective bargaining resulted in an overall real wage gain
of 1.2%.
Labor unions have achieved wage rises that were above the inflation rate since 2009.
As of September 2013, binding sector-wide minimum wages were in place in thirteen sectors,
five of which relating to construction occupations, covering approximately 8% of the workforce.
Those minimum wage rates are set by collective bargaining agreements. Minimum wages
ranged from €7.50 per hour in the security services to €13.70 per hour for skilled construction
work.
The country does not currently have a nation-wide legal minimum wage, although the
current Federal Government, a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the
Social Democratic Party (SPD), has agreed to introduce a statutory, country-wide minimum
wage of €8.50 per hour as of January 2015.
EU Forecast
euf:b.a18b:18/nws-01