Labor law made easy!

Your employment law guide for Germany - Everything you need to know about your job, salary and vacation!

Are you planning to start your career or simply want to find out more about your rights and obligations in your job? Here you will find the most important information - easy to understand and to the point!

1. labor law in Germany - your basis

Employment law protects you as an employee. It regulates everything important, from your employment contract to working hours and notice periods.

Employment contract

A written contract is mandatory! This sets out your tasks, salary, working hours and other details.
Read always read the contract thoroughly before you sign it!

2. minimum wage - your basic salary

The statutory minimum wage in Germany is currently €12.41 per hour (as of January 2024).

Important information:

The minimum wage applies to all employees - including mini-jobbers.
There are exceptions, for example, for trainees or young people under the age of 18 who have not completed an apprenticeship.

3. insurance - your job security

As an employee, you are automatically insured:

Health insurance: For visits to the doctor and treatment.
Pension insurance: For your future pension.
Unemployment insurance: If you lose your job.
Long-term care insurance: For long-term care.
Accident insurance: For accidents at work or occupational illnesses.

The contributions are deducted directly from your salary - your employer pays around half.

4. vacation - your recovery is guaranteed by law!

You are entitled to at least 24 working days' vacation per year (for a 6-day week).

With a 5-day week, there are at least 20 vacation days.
Collective agreements or individual agreements may stipulate more vacation days.

Vacation pay: Some employers pay additional vacation pay - but this is voluntary or may be regulated in the collective agreement.

5. working hours - your protection against overwork

The legal limit for working hours is 8 hours per day (maximum 48 hours per week).

Breaks: After 6 hours of work, you are entitled to a 30-minute break.
Overtime: Only if it is regulated or ordered in the contract.

6. notice periods - your protection when changing jobs

The statutory notice period is 4 weeks to the 15th or the end of the month.

The longer you work for a company, the longer the notice period.
Tip: Check your employment contract - sometimes there are special agreements!

7 Maternity and parental leave - combining family and career

Maternity protection: Pregnant women are not allowed to work 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth (in the case of premature or multiple births even 12 weeks afterwards).

Parental leave: Both parents can take up to 3 years of parental leave to look after their child.

8. illness - What happens if you fall ill?

If you fall ill, you will receive your full salary for up to 6 weeks. After that, the health insurance fund will step in with sick pay.
Important: Submit sick note and medical certificate in good time!

To summarize:

Whether minimum wage, insurance, vacation or notice period - in Germany you are well protected by clear rules. Inform yourself, know your rights and don't be afraid to ask questions your team JIG.WORLD .

#	Occupational category	Job title	Hourly gross salary (Euro)	Gross monthly salary (Euro)	Weekly working time (hours)
1	Filling worker	Retail - Brandenburg	13,42	2214	38
2	Filling worker	Retail - North Rhine-Westphalia	13,87	2261	37,5
3	Head of department	Retail - Brandenburg	20,21 – 30,70	3337 – 5069	38
4	Head of department	Retail - North Rhine-Westphalia	21,08 – 32,23	3436 – 5252	37,5
5	Head of department	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - North Rhine-Westphalia	29,94	5009	38,5
6	Head of department	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - Saxony-Anhalt	26,29	4455	39
7	IT department manager	Breweries - Bavaria	39,91	6591	38
8	IT department manager	Breweries - Thuringia, Saxony	35,81	5992	38,5
9	Nursing management	Public sector - West and East Germany	29,20 – 38,66	4949 – 6552	39
10	Nursing assistant	Public sector - West and East Germany	16,03 – 20,18	2718 – 3420	39
11	Nursing specialist	Public sector - West and East Germany	19,50 – 23,99	3305 – 4066	39
12	Employee/Worker	Insurance industry - West and East Germany	12,51 – 13,72	2066 – 2266	38
13	Workers	Clothing industry - Bavaria	13,12	2112	37
14	Workers	Printing industry - East Germany	14,38	2367	38
15	Workers	Printing industry - West Germany	15,62	2367	35
16	Workers	Iron and steel industry - North Rhine-Westphalia	13,69	2081	35
17	Workers	Iron and steel industry - East Germany	13,69	2081	35
18	Workers	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - North Rhine-Westphalia	13,17 – 13,78	2204 – 2306	38,5
19	Workers	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - Saxony-Anhalt	13,96	2366	39
20	Workers	Wood and plastics processing industry - Thuringia	12,30	2033	38
6	Department Manager	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - Saxony-Anhalt	26.29	4455	39
7	IT Department Manager	Breweries - Bavaria	39.91	6591	38
8	IT Department Manager	Breweries - Thuringia, Saxony	35.81	5992	38.5
9	Care Manager	Public Service - Western and Eastern States	29.20 – 38.66	4949 – 6552	39
10	Care Assistant	Public Service - Western and Eastern States	16.03 – 20.18	2718 – 3420	39
11	Care Specialist	Public Service - Western and Eastern States	19.50 – 23.99	3305 – 4066	39
12	Officer/Worker	Insurance Industry - Western and Eastern States	12.51 – 13.72	2066 – 2266	38
13	Worker	Clothing Industry - Bavaria	13.12	2112	37
14	Worker	Printing Industry - Eastern States	14.38	2367	38
15	Worker	Printing Industry - Western States	15.62	2367	35
16	Worker	Iron and Steel Industry - North Rhine-Westphalia	13.69	2081	35
17	Worker	Iron and Steel Industry - Eastern States	13.69	2081	35
18	Worker	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - North Rhine-Westphalia	13.17 – 13.78	2204 – 2306	38.5
19	Worker	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - Saxony-Anhalt	13.96	2366	39
20	Worker	Wood and Plastic Processing Industry - Thuringia	12.30	2033	38
21	Workers	Wood and plastics processing industry - Westphalia	16,62	2518	35
22	Workers	Cooling systems production - Lower Saxony	14,28	2296	37
23	Workers	Cooling systems production - Saxony-Anhalt	14,00	2250	37
24	Workers	Automotive industry - Thuringia	13,18	2148	37,5
25	Workers	Agriculture - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania	12,50	2175	40
26	Workers	Paper, cardboard and plastics processing industry - Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt	13,16	2106	37
27	Workers	Paper, cardboard and plastics processing industry - Westphalia	13,91	2114	35
28	Workers	Turnkey work (turnkey construction, forging work) - North Rhine-Westphalia	14,88	2396	37
29	Workers	Gastronomy - West and East Germany	11,31	1911	39
30	Workers	Textile industry - Westphalia and Osnabrück area	14,11 – 14,27	2271 – 2297	37
31	Workers	Galvanizers, excavator operators and metalworkers - West and East Germany (except Hamburg)	14,69	2300	36
32	Workers	Agriculture - Bavaria	12,50	2175	40
33	Workers	Textile industry (maximum 3-month training) - East Germany	11,73	1989	39
34	Workers	Textile industry - East Germany	25,81	4374	39
35	Doctor (in a university hospital)	Public sector - West and East Germany	28,32 – 35,32	5168 – 6446	42
36	Assistant for Chemical Technology	Paper manufacturing industry - Bavaria	17,92 – 27,07	2959 – 4471	38
37	Car salesman	Automotive industry (Metall NRW) - North Rhine-Westphalia	15,18 – 17,46	2409 – 2770	36,5
38	Car salesman	Automotive industry - Thuringia	15,65	2551	37,5
39	Car salesman	Automotive industry (Metall NRW) - North Rhine-Westphalia	23,01 – 26,47	3650 – 4198	36,5
40	Baker	Bakery - Berlin	15,15	2500	38
41	Hamam staff	Public sector - West and East Germany	14,27 – 17,26	2419 – 2925	39
42	Hammam expert	Public service - West and East Germany (with diploma)	15,20 – 18,78	2576 – 3184	39
43	Hammam expert	Public service - West and East Germany (with master craftsman title)	18,77 – 26,89	3181 – 4557	39
44	Construction equipment operator	Construction industry - East Germany	19,89 – 21,67	3445 – 3753	40
45	Construction equipment operator	Construction industry - West Germany	20,49 – 22,40	3549 – 3880	40
46	Master mechanic in the construction industry	Construction industry - East Germany	24,91	4314	40
47	Master mechanic in the construction industry	Construction industry - West Germany	25,73	4456	40
48	Owner of a vehicle without a driver's license	Transportation - North Rhine-Westphalia	13,26 – 14,08	2238 – 2378	39
49	Miner	Coal mining - Ruhr	12,57	2186	40
50	Professional driver	Construction industry - East Germany	19,89	3445	40
51	Professional driver	Construction industry - West Germany	20,49	3549	40
52	Professional driver	Transportation (Logistics) - Brandenburg	13,19	2282	40
53	Operating assistant	Paper manufacturing industry - Bavaria	18,22 – 27,38	3009 – 4521	38
54	Operating engineer	Confectionery industry - Baden-Württemberg	37,73	6231	38
55	Operating engineer	Confectionery industry - East Germany	35,49	6014	39
56	Operations expert	Chemical industry - North Rhine	27,31 – 35,01	4451 – 5706	37,5
57	Operations expert	Chemical industry - East Germany	24,25 – 31,09	4110 – 5269	39
58	Librarian	Public sector - West and East Germany	13,23 – 35,27	2242 – 5977	39
59	Accountant (Finance)	Printing industry - Saxony, Thuringia, Lower Saxony	26,40 – 33,56	4360 – 5542	38
60	Accountant (Finance)	Printing industry - Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg	28,67 – 36,43	4361 – 5540	35
61	Accountant (Finance)	Iron and steel industry - North Rhine-Westphalia	31,29 – 35,98	4759 – 5473	35
62	Accountant (Finance)	Iron and steel industry - East Germany	31,29 – 35,98	4759 – 5473	35
63	Accountant (Finance)	Confectionery industry - Baden-Württemberg	32,17 – 33,17	5313 – 5477	38
64	Accountant (Finance)	Confectionery industry - East Germany	30,16 – 33,02	5112 – 5597	39
65	Accountant (Finance)	Transportation (Logistics) - Brandenburg	13,72 – 15,56	2386 – 2706	40
66	Courier	Breweries - Bavaria	19,24	3177	38
67	Courier	Breweries - Thuringia, Saxony	17,59	2943	38,5
68	Courier	Chemical industry - North Rhine	17,31	2823	37,5
69	Courier	Chemical industry - East Germany	16,35	2773	39
70	Courier	Printing industry - Saxony, Thuringia, Lower Saxony	11,25 – 15,32	1859 – 2531	38
71	Courier	Printing industry - Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg	12,21 – 16,64	1857 – 2531	35
72	Courier	Rubber industry - Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland	13,52 – 14,87	2204 – 2424	37,5
73	Courier	Rubber industry - East Germany	12,64 – 13,91	2116 – 2327	38,5
74	Courier	Confectionery industry - Baden-Württemberg	13,54	2237	38
75	Courier	Confectionery industry - East Germany	13,57	2300	39
76	Master brewer	Breweries - Bavaria	23,02 – 25,08	3802 – 4142	38
77	Master brewer	Breweries - Thuringia, Saxony	21,80 – 23,81	3648 – 3983	38,5
78	Letter carrier	Deutsche Post AG - West and East Germany	14,34 – 18,47	2400 – 3090	38,5
79	Accountant	Deutsche Post AG - West and East Germany	17,25 – 21,48	2887 – 3594	38,5
80	Accountant	Iron and steel industry - North Rhine-Westphalia	15,27 – 18,72	2323 – 2848	35
81	Accountant	Iron and steel industry - East Germany	15,28 – 18,72	2324 – 2848	35
82	Accountant	Hotel and catering industry - Bavaria	14,73 – 16,19	2497 – 2744	39
83	Accountant	Hotel and catering industry - Saxony	16,43	2856	40
84	Accounting manager	Wood and plastics processing industry - Westphalia	36,71	5584	35
85	Accounting manager	Energy and utilities sector - Eastern Germany	31,05 – 34,78	5128 – 5744	38
86	Ironer	Dry cleaning sector - East Germany	12,24	1969	37
87	Ironer	Textile cleaning sector - West Germany	12,67	2038	37
88	Office/Group leader	Coal mining - Ruhr	19,96 – 24,11	3470 – 4192	40
89	Trainee	Energy sector - North Rhine-Westphalia (GWE region)	13,83 – 16,84	2284 – 2781	38
90	Office worker	Transportation - North Rhine-Westphalia	12,97 – 16,57	2198 – 2809	39
91	Office assistant	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - North Rhine-Westphalia	12,68 – 15,49	2122 – 2592	38,5
92	Office assistant	Wholesale and Foreign Trade - Saxony-Anhalt	10,89 – 12,17	1847 – 2063	39
93	Office worker	Printing industry - Saxony, Thuringia, Lower Saxony	13,24 – 18,92	2187 – 3125	38
94	Office worker	Printing industry - Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg	14,38 – 20,54	2188 – 3125	35
95	Office worker	Confectionery industry - Baden-Württemberg	18,53 – 20,13	3061 – 3324	38
96	Office worker	Confectionery industry - East Germany	17,56 – 19,31	2977 – 3273	39
97	Casino Manager	Gastronomy - West and East Germany	14,72	2488	39
98	Chemical laboratory technician	Rubber industry - Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland	17,76 – 19,41	2894 – 3164	37,5
99	Chemical laboratory technician	Rubber industry - East Germany	16,61 – 18,15	2779 – 3037	38,5
100	Chemical worker	Rubber industry - Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland	15,67 – 17,22	2554 – 2807	37,5

Labor law made easy!

Your employment law guide for Germany - Everything you need to know about your job, salary and vacation!

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