Germany's minimum wage for caregivers to rise in two steps

"Then a second increase to €16.95 is to follow one year later, on July 1st, 2027. For qualified nursing assistants with at least one year of training, the minimum wage is to rise from the current €17.35 to €17.80 per hour, and then to €18.26 in the same time period. For nursing staff, an increase from €20.50 to €21.03 is planned for 2026, and the second stage would see minimum wages rise to €21.58."

"Minimum wages apply to care facilities Germany's national statutory minimum wage, currently €12.82 per hour, covers all workers across the country. READ ALSO: Germany's minimum wage set for record increase But workers in certain industries are also protected by further role-specific minimum wages, such as those for nursing assistants and nursing staff. However, these specialised minimum wages aren't applied in all cases -- for example, when nurses work in private homes."

"The Commissioner of the Ministry of Labour for the Care Commission, Cornelia Prüfer-Storcks, said that the minimum wage for care continues to be the only individually enforceable legal claim for most care workers. Since 2022, facilities can only make contracts with the long-term care insurance funds if they pay according to the minimum wage, or similar. The Verdi trade union adds that the obligation does not guarantee individual nurses a certain wage level, but rather that an average level equivalent to the minimum wage is maintained."

Minimum wages for care workers in Germany will increase in two stages: on July 1, 2026, and again on July 1, 2027. Nursing assistants will move from €16.10 to €16.52 in 2026 and to €16.95 in 2027. Qualified nursing assistants will rise from €17.35 to €17.80 and then to €18.26. Nursing staff minimums will increase from €20.50 to €21.03 and then to €21.58. The national statutory minimum wage remains €12.82 per hour. About 1.3 million care workers are employed in facilities below the proposed care minimums. The labour ministry aims to enshrine care-specific minimum wages in law. Since 2022, facilities must pay at least the minimum to contract with long-term care insurance funds. The Verdi trade union notes the obligation maintains an average wage level rather than guaranteeing each individual nurse a specific wage.

Read at The Local Germany