Collective agreements & minimum wage - what applies to international employees?

If you employ international skilled workers - whether from the EU or from third countries - the following apply the same labor law regulations as for German employees. Particularly relevant here are the statutory minimum wage, possible Industry-specific collective agreements and compliance with labor standards.

1. principle of equal treatment: no special rules for international employees

Important for you as an employer:
The following apply to international employees No special regulations with regard to remuneration, working hours or vacation entitlement. You may neither disadvantaged still preferred The principle of equal treatment under German labor law applies without restriction.

2. statutory minimum wage

The statutory minimum wage applies for all employeesregardless of their origin, nationality or residence status.

• Since the January 1, 2024 the minimum wage is 12.41 euros gross per hour (as of March 2025).
• Also Mini-jobberseasonal workers or employees in their probationary period are entitled to this minimum wage.

Important: The payment of a lower wage due to a lack of German language skills or deviating qualifications is not permittedif the activity is comparable to that of other employees.

3. collective agreements and industry minimum wages

In certain industries Binding collective agreements with their own (often higher) minimum wages. These are mandatory for all employers - even those who are not bound by collective agreements. This applies, for example:

• Care sector
• Building trade
• Building cleaning
• Electrical trade
• Temporary work / agency work
• Security services

If you are active in such an industry, you must comply with the Industry minimum wage also pay international employees.

Example: Depending on the job, the minimum wage in building cleaning can exceed 13 Euro This also applies to foreign skilled workers in your company.

4. posting to Germany (foreign employers)

When foreign companies bring workers to Germany sendThe same applies to these employees, for example in the context of projects or assembly work:

• The German minimum wage
• The German working hours
• Collective agreements, if declared binding for the industry