Germany: Sectoral minimum wage agreed in elderly care services

From August 2010, 600,000 workers in German elderly care services are due to be covered, for the first time, by a binding minimum wage, which has been set at €8.50 an hour in western Germany and €7.50 in eastern Germany.

The 1996 Posted Workers Law (Arbeitnehmer-Entsendegesetz) allows a collectively agreed minimum wage to be applied by decree to all employers and employees in a particular industry by the minister of labour.