CDU Pushes to Remove Minimum Wage for Seasonal Agricultural Workers Despite Legal BarriersSat 21st Feb, 2026The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has initiated a call to exempt seasonal agricultural workers from Germany's statutory minimum wage, despite a legal analysis by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture indicating that such exemptions are not permissible under current law. According to proponents within the CDU, the minimum wage is seen as a challenge to the competitiveness of domestic agricultural businesses and, by extension, to the nation's food security. They argue that German agriculture is heavily reliant on seasonal labor, particularly from abroad, for harvesting and peak production periods. The minimum wage is enshrined in German law as a universal baseline for all employees, including those employed on a short-term or seasonal basis. Currently, the national minimum wage in Germany stands at 13.90 euros per hour and is scheduled to increase incrementally to 14.60 euros per hour by 2027.

Source: The Munich Eye February 21, 2026 23:44 UTC