Work in Germany 2022: The new year comes with many changes in new laws, rules and regulations. Here’s a list of five major changes affecting all workers in Germany in 2022:
Work in Germany 2022: Minimum wage increase
As of January 1, 2022, all workers and employees in Germany will receive an hourly minimum wage, in Germany, the minimum wage is EUR 9.82 per hour.
As of July 1, 2022, the statutory minimum wage per hour will increase to EUR 10.45. This also applies to work on so-called Minijobs. (READ MORE: New rules for Minijob in Germany 2022)
Under the new coalition agreement, the SPD, the Greens, and the FDP agreed to raise the minimum wage to EUR 12 per hour. However, it is still unclear when the new rate hike will be introduced.
What is the current statutory minimum wage?
- The legal minimum wage is currently: 9.60 euros
What is the statutory minimum wage in 2022?
- From January 1 to June 30, 2022, the statutory minimum wage is 9.82 euros
- From July 1 to December 31, 2022, the statutory minimum wage is 10.45 euros
Increase in tax free allowances
January 1st 2022 will see an increase in the tax free allowance by 204 euros. this will mean that single earners will pay no taxes on the first 9.984 euros of their income. For those that are married or in any registered partnership the amount is doubled.
Work in Germany 2022: Online unemployment registration
You are required to register with your local branch of the Employment Agency (BA) in order to receive unemployment benefits. From 2022 all who are unemployed or have lost their jobs will be able to register online with valid electronic proof of identity.
Compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for health workers and staff
March 15, 2022, it is expected that at least all employees in German hospitals, nursing homes and similar institution must present proof that they are either vaccinated against or have recovered from covid-19.
READ RELATED ARTICLE: Koronabonus 2022 in Germany: Who will benefit from it and how much is it?
Koronabonus for employees in Germany
Until March 2022, employees of certain industries in Germany will receive a Koronabonus of up to EUR 1,500. The bonus is not taxable!
Koronabonus will be fully available to all employees employed in Germany and Public sector workers in all federal states (except Hesse) will primarily benefit.
Regarding Hesse, according to the portal oeffentlicher-dienst-news.de, after separate negotiations between the trade unions and employers, the federal state will pay its state employees a covid bonus of 1,000 euros.
Source: iamexpat.de, Deutschlan.de