A top German conservative has cast doubt on whether a €15 ($16.50) hourly minimum wage can be achieved by 2026, just one day after the target was outlined in a coalition agreement.
Jens Spahn, the deputy parliamentary leader for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told broadcaster RTL/ntv on Thursday that it was “unlikely” Germany “will see enough growth and wage progression” for the target to be met by next year.
The CDU presented its coalition deal with the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Wednesday, with the 144-page document stating that a €15 minimum wage – up from the current €12.82 – was “achievable” in 2026.
Germany’s Minimum Wage Commission is responsible for setting the figure, but the coalition agreement seeks to tweak the rules for the commission’s calculations, aiming to tie the minimum wage to 60% of median pay.
Spahn reiterated that the coalition will not set a statutory €15 minimum, but that the figure “would develop along with general wages in Germany.”
The former health minister is expected to hold a senior position in the new government but refused to be drawn into speculation on his future role.