Wage increase for Saxony's nursing staff: Progress is here!

Wage increase for Saxony's nursing staff: Progress is here!

In Germany, everyone is talking about nursing staff, and rightly so: wages are rising! In Saxony, nursing staff are happy about a significant salary increase. The average hourly wage has increased from 21.55 to 23.32 euros in the last few months, which corresponds to a whopping increase of 8.2 percent. However, this means that Saxon nursing staff are still below the national average of 23.70 euros diesachsen.de reported.

According to the umbrella association of statutory health insurance companies (GKV), wages are a hot topic nationwide. In Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, nursing staff are paid the best, with hourly rates of 24.55 euros and 24.21 euros, respectively. Cities like Hamburg in particular show how important appreciation is for these professions.

Changes in care

But what does this mean for those in need of care? Association head Oliver Blatt makes it clear that the wages are fair, but the personal contributions for nursing home residents could increase dramatically. According to estimates, a nationwide wage increase could increase personal contributions by an average of 100 euros per month, of which around 30 euros could be cushioned by relief surcharges from the nursing care funds. The additional expenditure on nursing care insurance is estimated at around 260 million euros per year.

The demand for skilled workers in the health and care sector remains high. This is also reflected in the increase in earnings in the care sector: gross earnings for full-time employees in these professions were estimated at 4,048 euros in April 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 43.1 percent compared to ten years ago. In geriatric care in particular, skilled workers were able to benefit from an average salary of 4,228 euros, while those working in health and nursing earned an average of 4,310 euros tagesschau.de informed.

Nursing professions in context

But what do nursing staff do in everyday life, apart from wage policy? The challenges are great, and recognition from society often has to catch up. The constant search for suitable specialists shows how important it is to make the nursing profession attractive. Many believe that the statutory minimum wage, introduced in 2015, also contributed to this positive trend.

Overall, it is clear that the nursing professions in Germany play an important role and must increase the necessary appreciation - both financially and socially. It remains to be seen how the situation evolves as caregivers continue to fight tirelessly for our health.

At a time when we are questioning the essence of our social infrastructure, one could certainly speak of a “word for Wednesday” when looking at the wages and working conditions of the nursing profession. A small step in the right direction, but there is certainly still room for improvement if you look at salaries in other EU countries. Nevertheless, there is also a positive trend here. In countries such as the Netherlands, France and Belgium, the importance of nursing professions is also growing rapidly, showing that appreciation and pay often go hand in hand.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether these positive developments will continue and how the nursing professions will continue to develop both economically and ethically in a constantly changing society. Ultimately, we need to work together to ensure that each of us remains in good hands - not only in times of illness, but also in the daily support of the many heroic nursing staff who work in the background.