The upper limit for mini-jobs is to rise from 450 to 520 euros per month on October 1st. That should happen at the same time as the minimum wage was raised to twelve euros.
Mini job wage increase: The new German coalition government had agreed on the increase as part of the coalition agreement. The increase is to be made unique in such a way that even with further increases, ten hours per week is still possible as a mini job. They are now delivering on the campaign promise. Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil has already submitted a draft for increasing the minimum wage by law. Companies had complained that the maximum number of hours that mini-jobbers could work per month then fell significantly.
Immediate pushback from the German trade union confederation: “A mini job wage increase is a huge mistake”
Criticism came from the German Federation of Trade Unions. The expansion of mini-jobs is “a huge mistake,” explained board member Anja Piel. Because the corona pandemic, in particular, has shown that marginally employed people “need social protection against unemployment and entitlement to sick pay in an emergency”.
“Mini-jobs are of no use for your own pension either,” Piel continued. “Therefore, the pension insurance obligation must also apply to these employees without exception.” The full social security contribution must be borne by the employer. “Employees could then gradually participate in the financing up to parity as gross wages rise.”
“Mini-jobs must be regulated instead of raising the earnings limit. Yes, they should be abolished in this form”
“With the increase in the earnings limit for mini-jobs from 450 to 520 euros, there is a risk that mini-jobs will displace more and more regular jobs,” warned Guido Zeitler, chairman of the Food, Enjoyment, and Restaurants trade union. Mini jobs have been “a part-time trap, especially for women” for years. For them, “poverty in old age is inevitable”.
But the coalition has declared that it wants to prevent mini-jobs from being misused as a substitute for regular employment or becoming a part-time trap, especially for women. To this end, she wants to monitor compliance with the applicable labor law for mini jobs more closely.
A demand for fairness and a “chance for a little more net wages”
Federal Minister of Finance and FDP leader Christian Lindner (43) on Twitter: “For many hard-working people such as students or pensioners, this is the chance of a little more net wages.”
Eine gute Nachricht für alle, die in einem #Minijob arbeiten: Die Grenze erhöhen wir nun auf 520 Euro! Das ist für viele fleißige Menschen wie Studierende oder Rentnerinnen und Rentner die Chance auf etwas mehr Netto. CL
— Christian Lindner (@c_lindner) January 29, 2022
A demand for fairness!
+++ Schon 2020 haben wir es als @fdpbt im Bundestag gefordert (👇🏻), jetzt setzen wir es nach der Wahl als Koalition um: Wir erhöhen & dynamisieren die Minijob-Grenze auf 520 Euro. Damit Schülerinnen, Studenten & Rentnerinnen mehr Geld verdienen können. Ein Gebot der Fairness! +++ pic.twitter.com/PR85HrSh91
— Johannes Vogel (@johannesvogel) January 29, 2022
The German coalition government is delivering on a campaign promise!
Die Verdienst-Obergrenze für #Minijobs soll am 1. Oktober von 450 auf 520 Euro im Monat steigen. 💰 Bundesarbeitsminister Heil will zum 1. Oktober auch den gesetzlichen #Mindestlohn auf 12 Euro anheben und damit ein zentrales Wahlkampfversprechen der SPD einlösen. #RTLDirekt pic.twitter.com/E6mN6g5dnN
— RTL Direkt (@rtl_direkt) January 29, 2022
Wages go to the employees up to the upper limit
Background: In the case of mini-jobs, the monthly gross wage goes directly to the employees up to the specified upper limit. The number of possible working hours results from the hourly wage. The company pays a fixed percentage of wages as a levy, which mainly includes social security contributions.
For midi jobs with a limit of 1300 euros so far, the social security contributions for employees are reduced so that the deductions are not as high compared to mini jobs. In addition to the mini job increase, the limit for so-called midi jobs will also rise to 1,600 euros.
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