Chancellor Scholz has again called for an increase in the minimum wage: He believes a gradual increase to 15 euros is necessary, he explained in an interview. SPD leader Esken called on employers to give in.
Despite criticism from the traffic light coalition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his push for a gradual increase in the minimum wage to 15 euros in Germany. The SPD politician told the television station Phoenix that the minimum wage should rise to 14 euros in a first step and to 15 euros in a second step.
“Of course, those who work hard and earn little must have better wages.” He thinks “that someone who makes an effort needs to be treated properly – and a decent wage is part of that,” Scholz told the broadcaster. Even with these amounts it is difficult to make a living: “And to be honest, 14 or 15 euros isn’t the world either. You can’t get very far with that.”
12.82 euros are planned for 2025
It is currently planned to increase the minimum wage next year from the current 12.41 euros to 12.82 euros. Scholz’s move recently sparked strong criticism from his coalition partner FDP, the opposition Union and employers. Greens, trade unions and social associations welcomed the statement.
In the interview, Scholz recently criticized the minimum wage commission from employers and unions: “The employers only insisted on a mini-adjustment.” They also broke with the tradition of making decisions by consensus. The Commission should return to a uniform procedure.
Esken speaks of breaking taboos
The employers’ association BDA accused Scholz of interfering in the setting of the minimum wage. The FDP made a similar statement. SPD leader Saskia Esken called on employers to make a significant minimum wage increase possible. Otherwise, politicians will be forced to act. “We cannot allow the minimum wage to remain too low,” Esken told the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten”.
It was a breach of a taboo that the employers overruled the unions. “If the commission fails to fulfill its task of setting a common and fair wage next time, we would be forced to act,” said Esken.