Zur Stärkung der Tarifautonomie und Einführung eines allgemeinen gesetzlichen Mindestlohnes

Abstract

"The draft law of the German Federal Government on the strengthening of collective bargaining autonomy aims at strengthening collective bargaining autonomy and ensuring appropriate working conditions for employees (parliamentary printed document 18/1558). It allows - as of 1 January 2015 - for the introduction of a countrywide legal minimum wage of 8.50 euros per hour. Here there are to be exceptional regulations for young people under the age of 18 years and, under set conditions and limited to a certain period of time, for trainees and long-term unemployed. In addition, binding general collective wage agreements negotiated by representatives of the parties to the contract are allowed to continue to apply until 31 December 2016. In future, a Minimum Wage Commission is to decide on an annual basis on the adjustment of the minimum wage, which can be effected as of 1 January 2018 for the first time. <br> In addition to this, the scope of the law regulating the posting of workers (Arbeitnehmerentsendegesetz), which makes it possible to establish minimum wages in particular branches, is to be extended from the branches listed there to all branches. 'Concrete public interest' will be introduced as a criterion for the general declaration of the obligation of a collective wage agreement. This is fulfilled when the parties engaged in the collective bargaining submit a joint application for the general declaration of obligation of a collective wage agreement. The Act on Minimum Working Conditions, that makes it possible to set minimum wages for those branches of the economy in which less than 50 percent of the employees are employed in accordance with a binding collective bargaining agreement, is to be repealed. <br> The application of the parliamentary group Die Linke (The Left) specifies the introduction of a country-wide minimum wage of ten euros per hour for all working relationships without any exceptions (parliamentary printed document 18/590).<br> In this statement, IAB is expressing its opinion on the envisaged general legal minimum wage and on the intended exceptions. Here it comments, among other things, on the following aspects:<br> - the general effects of minimum wages; the results of research on the minimum wage in other countries; and, the previous regulations concerning minimum wages in Germany<br> - the proposed level of the general legal minimum wage; eventual effects on the integration chances of the unemployed who have limited competitive characteristics; and, possible results for labour market policy<br> - the intended configuration of the Minimum Wage Commission provided for in the draft law; as well as the planned regulations regarding the transition period and exceptions.<br> In this statement, IAB does not deal with issues relating to the legal aspects of collective bargaining." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bruckmeier, K., Dietrich, H., Kruppe, T., Möller, J., Stephan, G., Stops, M., Weber, E., Wiemers, J., Wolff, J. & Zapf, I. (2014): Zur Stärkung der Tarifautonomie und Einführung eines allgemeinen gesetzlichen Mindestlohnes. Öffentliche Anhörung von Sachverständigen vor dem Ausschuss für Arbeit und Soziales des Deutschen Bundestags am 30. Juni 2014. (IAB-Stellungnahme 03/2014), Nürnberg, 28 p.