Summer Job Rush Begins in Germany — But Not All Teenagers Get the Minimum Wage
Published on 07/30/2026 at 03:32 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The school holidays have arrived across Germany, bringing the peak season for temporary workers. Since January, the statutory minimum wage has stood at €13.90 per hour, covering roughly 4.8 million employment relationships. A further increase to €14.60 is already locked in for 2027. Yet a significant group of young workers remains excluded: minors under 18 who have not completed vocational training.
This exemption has drawn sharp criticism from the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), which argues that age should not determine pay. Union representatives are urging employers to offer fair compensation voluntarily, even where the law does not require it.
For UK employers, ensuring fair pay is just one part of the equation — protecting young and temporary workers from workplace hazards is equally critical. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments and checklists to help you meet your legal duties under UK law. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
What Student Workers Need to Know
For those aged 18 and older, the minimum wage applies fully. Mini-jobbers now have a monthly earnings limit of €603, and short-term workers often remain exempt from social insurance contributions. On the tax side, the annual basic allowance of €12,384 means no income tax is due below that threshold.
A European Court of Justice ruling from October 2025 has added further clarity: travel time from a meeting point to changing work locations now counts as working time. In sectors such as horticulture or building cleaning, this can add up to €400 extra per month.
Strict Rules for Under-18s
Child labour laws impose tight restrictions on younger workers. Children aged 13 and 14 may only perform light tasks with parental consent, and their working hours are severely limited. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 can work a maximum of four weeks per calendar year during holidays — eight hours daily and 40 hours weekly.
The DGB contends that the minimum wage exemption for minors without qualifications creates an unfair two-tier system. Regional union representatives have echoed this, recommending that employers pay fairly regardless of a worker's age.
Political Battles Over Seasonal Work and Mini-Jobs
The design of seasonal employment remains contentious. The SPD and the Left Party oppose any expansion of social-insurance-free work to 90 days, demanding that workers receive social protection from their first day on the job. They also criticise plans to deduct accommodation costs from wages, arguing this would reduce net earnings for harvest helpers.
Meanwhile, the future of mini-jobs is under debate. The Pension Security Commission has recommended abolishing their special status and the opt-out option from pension insurance. For the roughly 6.7 million mini-jobbers, that would mean higher social contributions. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made clear that a complete abolition of mini-jobs is not on the table. Since 1 July 2026, mini-jobbers with a permanent exemption have been allowed a one-time return to mandatory pension insurance.
As seasonal staff come on board, UK employers face their own compliance challenges — particularly around the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. A free toolkit with nine practical tools, including risk assessments and a directors' liability guide, helps you stay on the right side of the law. Get the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Labour Market Shows Signs of Cooling
The job market remains stable but subdued. The IAB Labour Market Barometer recently stood at 99.4 points, while the Ifo Employment Barometer reached 93.0 points — both indicating low hiring willingness. Industry is leading the decline: 177,000 jobs were lost last year, 52,000 of them in the automotive sector.
Despite this, the supply of summer jobs holds steady. The Federal Employment Agency expects a seasonally adjusted increase in unemployment of around 5,000 people, putting the jobless rate at 6.2 percent. While factories cut back, care facilities and the hospitality industry continue to search desperately for temporary staff.
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