Tariff increase for scaffolders: More money and better conditions!

Tariff increase for scaffolders: More money and better conditions!

In Cologne and beyond, the tariff increase for scaffolders, which will come into force on November 1, 2025, has caused a stir. The industry is essential for building construction work such as facade painting, roofing, facade insulation and church tower renovations. The scaffolders regularly perform their work under extreme conditions—in wind and weather, heat and cold. Therefore, Ralf Eckardt from the BAU Thuringia industrial union confirmed that the new wage increase takes the harsh working conditions into account and represents a significant improvement for the workers. The industry is looking forward to the new year with confidence as negotiations have now led to an agreement.

The basic wages will rise by 7.5 percent to 19.25 euros per hour from November 1, 2025 and will later be increased again by 4.4 percent to 20.10 euros from October 1, 2026. These are significant advances in terms of fair pay, which is highly valued in the industry. Training allowances will also increase: for the first year of training, the allowance will be increased by 75 euros to 1,125 euros. In the second year of training it is 1,300 euros and in the third year of training it is 1,550 euros, which makes entry into the professional field more attractive for many young people. These adjustments make it clear that crafts can be a good business for young people.

Additional benefits for employees

Another important point of the new agreement is the introduction of a collective summer loss allowance. In extreme weather conditions, companies now have the opportunity to apply for up to 50 hours of summer loss pay between May 1st and August 31st. In such cases, 75 percent of the hourly wage is reimbursed so that employees are not stuck with their wages. In addition, the additional pension will be increased by 10 percent, which is a big step towards retirement security.

This collective agreement ends on October 31, 2027, but the adjustments to the industry minimum wage are also notable. From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage will be increased to 14.35 euros, which will rise again to 14.90 euros on January 1, 2027. These increases not only provide financial flexibility for workers, but also a positive signal for the entire industry.

The results of the collective bargaining were confirmed by IG Bau, but there has been no official press release about it so far. The deputy federal chairman of IG Bau described the conclusion as excellent and viewed it as a breakthrough for the health protection of employees. This shows that the fight for fair working conditions and fair wages continues even in stormy times.

The increase in wages and training allowances as well as the introduction of specific regulations are not only a sign of recognition for the difficult working conditions, but also a clear step towards a better future for everyone in the scaffolding industry. People can look forward to the next few years with optimism and a fairer working environment.