Germany is in chaos over the minimum wage for seasonal workers! The Federal Ministry of Labor has made it crystal clear – scrapping the minimum wage is illegal! Farmers are whining that the wages for seasonal workers are too high and want to slash them to 80% of the current minimum wage of €12.82 per hour. Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Farmers’ Union, bluntly states that raising the minimum wage to €15 per hour would spell doom for many vegetable, fruit, and vineyard producers. “Many simply cannot afford such wages,” he says. The Ministry of Labor, led by Social Democrat Berbel Bas, warns that lowering the minimum wage would violate national and European anti-discrimination laws, and such a move is not even part of the coalition agreement. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, with representatives from the Christian Social Union, shows sympathy for farmers’ demands and is exploring legal ways to meet them. The minimum wage in Germany is already significantly higher than in countries where most seasonal workers come from, like Bulgaria (€2.85) and Romania (€3.99). By the end of June, a special commission is expected to present proposals for a gradual increase in the minimum wage, and German media report that the minimum wage could rise to €15 at the start of next year. This wage drama casts a dark shadow over German agriculture and raises the question – who will pay the price? Will workers lose their jobs and farmers their workforce? Or will the law be ignored due to economic pressures? Drop a comment if you think this is a fight for rights or just another example of capital crushing workers! Who knows, maybe soon you’ll be working for 80% of the minimum wage without even realizing it!
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