Minimum wage remains: farmers in MV fight for fair conditions!

Minimum wage remains: farmers in MV fight for fair conditions!

Schwerin, Deutschland - In Germany, the discussion about the minimum wage ensures strong waves, especially in agriculture. Many fruit and vegetable farmers are currently looking for harvest helpers, be it for the asparagus or strawberry harvest. The pressure on the companies is increasing, because the demand for lower wages for these seasonal forces is in the room - but the legislator has so far remained steadfast. According to a current report by Süddeutsche Corresponding application of the CDU, which had proposed a deviation from the minimum wage, not successful in the state parliament.

Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD) emphasized that the statutory minimum wage of EUR 12.82 for all job conditions, including the seasonal work, was irrefutable. He referred to a message from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture that the absolute minimum wages cannot allow any exceptions due to the principle of equal treatment in the Basic Law. However, the high minimum wage is a challenge for many fruit and vegetable farmers, since the availability of German workers disappears and the production decreases.

The pressure on agriculture

Against the background of rising wages up to 14.60 euros by 2027, the farmers' association has already signaled that an exception is required for seasonal workers. But the Federal Ministry of Labor has rejected the proposal with only 80 percent of the minimum wage, as inadmissible. Agricultural Minister Alois Rainer, however, was open to demands from the industry, although the actual possibility of such exceptions is severely limited.

The presidents of the farmers' association, Joachim Rukwied, described the decision as a "black day" for domestic agriculture. He predicted that the challenges due to the planned increase in the minimum wage not only undermine the competitiveness of local businesses, but could also drive up the prices for domestic products. The result would be an impending shift in production abroad and increasing living costs for consumers.

future with uncertainties

Although the challenges in agriculture are great, there are also voices that hope for a long -term solution. Minister Rainer announced that measures such as reducing bureaucracy costs and reduction in electricity tax were planned to relieve the company. The time emphasized that a legal analysis has arisen that exceptions from the minimum wage cannot be implemented in view of the principle of equal treatment.

How the situation in the agricultural sector will develop remains to be seen. The challenges are enormous and the farmers are faced with a real dilemma: How should they guarantee high -quality and affordable foods from the region if production is under pressure at the same time? In the coming months it will be crucial whether and how politics reacts to these burning questions.