Germany: Minimum wage to increase on January 1

On or after January 1, 2017, due to a legal amendment, employers in Germany will have to pay foreign and local workers a minimum wage of EUR 8.84 per hour.

Other visa-specific minimum salary rules, such as that the salary has to be comparable to the salary of a German national working in the same position with the same qualifications and experience, will still apply.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers planning to file new or renewal work permit applications on or after January 1, 2017 should consider the increased salary threshold and costs in their corporate budgets.