Berlin
Despite criticism from the traffic light coalition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his plea for a gradual increase in the minimum wage to 15 euros in Germany. The SPD politician told Phoenix television that the minimum wage must 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 should get better wages.” He believes that “someone who is committed should be treated well – and that includes a decent wage,” Scholz told the broadcaster on Friday.
Even with these amounts it is difficult to make ends meet: “And to be honest, 14 or 15 euros is not the world either. You won’t get far with that.” Regarding critics, Scholz said he would ask “that some with their high incomes, who write very opinionated comments about it, imagine how they would have to make ends meet with this money if they also had to support a family with it.” Even with a full-time job, the pay is not high.
The minimum wage committee decides independently. But his advice was “amicable and a bit like looking at the perspective of those who work full-time for such low wages,” Scholz said. The current intention is to increase the minimum wage next year from the current 12.41 euros to 12.82 euros.
Scholz recently received strong criticism from his coalition partner for his initiative FDP, the opposition union and the employers. Greens, Labor unions and social associations welcomed the statement. In the interview, Scholz recently criticized the Minimum Wage Commission: “The employers only insisted on a mini-adjustment.” They also broke with the tradition of making decisions by consensus. The Commission must return to a uniform procedure. The employers’ organization BDA accused Scholz of interfering with the setting of the minimum wage. The FDP has made a similar statement.
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