The hourly minimum wage for workers in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, will rise in two stages to 14.60 euros ($17) by 2027 from 12.82 euros, the cabinet agreed on Wednesday.
The change, which will initially include a rise to 13.90 euros at the beginning of 2026, is in line with proposals put forward in June by a government-appointed commission comprising employers and trade union representatives.
Workers in up to 6.6 million jobs could benefit from the increase, the Federal Statistics Office estimated.
However, critics say raising the minimum wage could put jobs at risk as higher labour costs make it harder for companies to hire and keep staff.
Germany’s labour market is feeling the effects of two years of economic contraction, with the number of unemployed people hitting the 3 million mark in August for the first time in a decade although it dipped just below that in September.
The rise is below the level of 15 euros an hour in 2026 which Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives and his Social Democrat (SPD) governing partners had said was achievable in their coalition deal.
Source: Reuters
Rome will host a four-day public celebration from June 25 to 28, 2026, to mark the 80th anniversary of Vespa, with thousands of enthusiasts from around the world expected to attend.
T...
The European Central Bank (ECB) released its updated wage tracker this week, indicating that negotiated wage pressures remain stable as the year progresses.
Data covering agreements s...
Morning Briefing
Political Leaders Attend Key Brussels Meetings on Europe’s Future
Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg are both in Brussels this week, takin...
Updated 1145
€7.5 Million Allocated to Final Phase of Heritage Restoration Scheme
The government has announced the reopening of the Irrestawra Darek scheme for Malta's eastern regi...
The European Union's new Migration and Asylum Pact enters into force on 12 June, ushering in the most significant reform of the bloc's migration framework in years and placing renewed em...
The European Parliament has approved a major new initiative aimed at reducing workplace accidents and strengthening worker protection across the European Union, as concerns continue to g...
Rome will host a four-day public celebration from June 25 to 28, 2026, to mark the 80th anniversary of Vespa, with thousands of enthusiasts from around the world expected to attend.
T...
The European Central Bank (ECB) released its updated wage tracker this week, indicating that negotiated wage pressures remain stable as the year progresses.
Data covering agreements s...
The European Parliament has approved a major new initiative aimed at reducing workplace accidents and strengthening worker protection across the European Union, as concerns continue to g...
The European Union has approved new rules aimed at tightening the screening of foreign investments in strategic sectors, marking a major shift in Europe’s approach towards economic secur...
GO ENERGI is offering households the opportunity to take advantage of the Government’s current grants to support PV systems and battery storage through a range of solar energy solutions ...
Malta Public Transport announces a number of network adjustments in connection with the introduction of its Summer Schedule, aimed at meeting seasonal passenger demand and improving serv...
The U.S. and Iran released the text of an interim agreement their presidents have signed to end their war on Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to resume attacks and...
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had reached an agreement to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a preliminary pact that sent oil prices falling but leaves the fate of Te...
Thousands of Cuban security personnel have begun leaving Caracas after nearly two decades in Venezuela, as Washington ramps up efforts to dismantle the long standing alliance between the...
María Corina Machado is a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition. She has reported that one of her closest associates, Juan Pablo Guanipa, was abducted. This occurred mere hours afte...
Moscow has come under the largest Ukrainian attack since the start of the full-scale war, with close to 200 drones hitting targets around the Russian capital and setting columns of thick...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia should make peace with Ukraine after a "very good" meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday, in comments that sparked cautious optim...
