Minimum wage crisis: Munich's mothers fight for daily survival!

Minimum wage crisis: Munich's mothers fight for daily survival!

München, Deutschland - in Munich, the statutory minimum wage is perceived by many as insufficient, especially in the Bavarian metropolis, where the cost of living is significantly higher than in rural regions. According to Tagesschau therefore economists have started to demand regional graduation of the minimum wage. This measure should serve to compensate for the higher costs, which are particularly incurred in metropolitan areas such as Munich. The reality shows it using the example of Fabienne Marquardt, a single mother and hairdresser from the city, who, despite a gross income of around 2,300 euros a month, has only around 1,700 euros. With a cold rent of 1,000 euros for your two-room apartment, not much remains.

an alarming statistics states that around a third of the German population lives "from hand in the mouth". More than 21% are threatened by poverty, and about 15% are below the poverty line, which is 1,400 euros net for a one-person household. This throws a clearer light on the discussion about the minimum wage, which has now been raised from 8.50 to 12.82 euros since its introduction on January 1, 2015, but is not sufficient in many cities to cover the cost of living.

regional relays and challenges

economic experts argue that a regionally staggered minimum wage, as is practiced in the USA and Canada, would be a sensible step. In the United States, the minimum wage varies heavily depending on the region; For example, the sentences are between $ 14.70 in Arizona and $ 17.50 in the District of Columbia. The advantage of such a regulation would be to align purchasing power and a lower burden for companies in rural areas. However, there are also concerns: political difficulties in implementing and increased bureaucracy could become a stumbling block.

The discussion about different minimum wages in the industry is getting louder, especially in agriculture. The President of the German Farmers' Association, for example, demands that seasonal workers only reward 80% of the minimum wage. The SPD is defending itself and warns that such a differentiation undermines the basic idea of ​​the minimum wage. There are already exemptions for certain groups such as trainees and interns.

future developments and EU requirements

The minimum lighter increase in Germany has repeatedly caused discussions in recent years. Although the increase to 12 euros on October 1, 2022 brought positive income improvements for around 8 million employees, a comparison with other EU countries shows that Germany with a minimum wage of around 53% of median wages is in the European midfield. The EU has issued guidelines that stipulate that the minimum wage should be at least 60% of the median wage, but Germany is after.

The minimum wage commission will advise on future increases in mid -2025, while politicians like Olaf Scholz demand a gradual increase to 14 euros and later even 15 euros. SPD boss Saskia Esken supports these efforts and warns of too low wage level that could further reinforce social inequality. It remains to be seen how the debate about the minimum wage will develop in the coming months and whether regional relays could possibly be an idieal solution.