On 28 January 2020, the Nursing Commission agreed on higher minimum wages for caretaking personnel  in the elderly care: From 1 July 2020, the minimum wages for care assistants in western and eastern parts of Germany will rise to 12.55 euros per hour, which will happen in four separate steps. The adjustment of the regionally different minimum nursing care wages then will be finally completed by 1 September 2021.

In addition, for the first time the care commission has set a particular minimum care wage for qualified nursing assistants and for nursing specialists.

Nursing assistants: From 1 April 2021, a minimum wage of 12.20 euros per hour will be introduced for qualified nursing assistants in the east and 12.50 euros per hour in the west. The east-west alignment is to be completed on 1 September 2021 at a uniform 12.50 euros per hour. From 1 April 2022, the minimum wage for qualified care workers is to rise to 13.20 euros per hour.

Nurses: On 1 July 2021, a uniform minimum wage of 15.00 euros per hour is to be introduced for qualified nursing staff. From 1 April 2022, the minimum wage for qualified nurses is to rise to 15.40 euros per hour.

Nursing staff will also be entitled to additional paid leave in addition to their statutory leave entitlement. For employees with a 5-day week, this will amount to five days in 2020. For the years 2021 and 2022, the entitlement to additional paid leave will be six days each.

Federal Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil:

“I am pleased with the recommendations of the Nursing Commission because they prove that the law is working for better wages in the nursing sector. Nursing care workers can expect more than just an increase in the minimum wage. The result also paves the way for overcoming the long-established differences in the minimum wages for care in East and West Germany and for achieving a uniform minimum wage applicable throughout Germany. The Commission has also followed our call for differentiated minimum wages for unskilled and skilled workers. (…)”

Rainer Brückers, representative of the care commission of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social protection:

“This recommendation was adopted unanimously by the Commission. It is a clear signal to workers in the elderlycare: there will be a substantial increase in the minimum wage and for the first time, the minimum pay will be set for skilled and semi-skilled caregivers. The alignment of the regionally different minimum care wages is to be finally completed by 1 September 2021 at the latest. Employees in the elderlycare, who have only been entitled to the statutory minimum leave up to now , are to be given the right to additional leave.

This recommendation means a minimum level of respect for all workers in the care sector affected by the proposed minimum wages and is intended to guarantee them appropriate working conditions. Good care should also be adequately remunerated. (…)”

Around 1.2 million people are employed in facilities that fall under the minimum care wage. Where the special minimum care wage does not apply (e.g. in private households), the general statutory minimum wage applies, which is currently €9.35 per hour.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs aims to adopt the new minimum wage for long-term care by means of a regulation on the basis of the recommendation of the care commission. Under the current law on the posting of workers the care commission comprises representatives of private, non-profit and church care institutions, where employers and employees are equally represented.

Source (in German): https://www.bmas.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2020/hoeherer-mindestlohn-in-altenpflege.html