Press release No. 495 of 11 December 2018
WIESBADEN – In Germany the minimum wage was set at 8.84 euros per hour at the beginning of 2017. For a full-time job, the minimum wage threshold thus is 1,498 euros per month in gross terms. As recommended by the Minimum Wage Commission, the minimum wage will be increased by ordinance to 9.19 euros gross per hour worked as of 1 January 2019 and to 9.35 euros as of 1 January 2020. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that the minimum wage in France was on the same level as in Germany in 2018, at 1,498 euros gross per month. There were only four EU countries with a higher minimum wage in 2018. The top-tier countries included also Luxembourg (1,999 euros), Ireland (1,614 euros), Netherlands (1,578 euros in the first half year, 1,594 euros in the second half year) and Belgium (1,563 euros). The President of France Emmanuel Macron announced that the minimum wage will be increased by 100 euros per month in 2019.
