Left MPs call for stricter controls on minimum wage jobs - Thuringia's minimum wage crisis leaves thousands underpaid and unprotected
A labour rights advocate has raised concerns over weak enforcement of minimum wage laws in Thuringia. Donata Vogtschmidt argues that too few inspections take place, leaving many workers earning less than the minimum wage. She also calls for a higher minimum wage to tackle poverty across the state.
Official figures show around 188,000 employees in Thuringia earn less than €15 per hour. Of these, 151,000 work in non-unionised jobs, while 37,000 are covered by collective agreements. Vogtschmidt highlights that the current minimum wage of €12.41 fails to provide a decent living standard.
Nationwide, inspections have increased, with 1,001 checks carried out last year. These led to 199 administrative proceedings and 253 resolved cases. However, Vogtschmidt insists Thuringia's enforcement of the minimum wage remains too weak.
Data from April 2025 reveals a significant share of jobs still pay under €13.95 per hour. While exact 2026 figures are unavailable, the trend suggests persistent low pay in certain sectors.
Vogtschmidt's demands focus on two key actions: stricter controls on minimum wage compliance and a higher minimum wage. Without stronger measures, she warns, thousands in Thuringia will continue earning below a fair threshold. The debate follows broader concerns about wage inequality and enforcement gaps in Germany.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
