Half a Million Minijobs Vacant as German Retailers Face Strikes and New Rules
20.06.2026 - 14:47:13 | boerse-global.de
Warning strikes have hit the German retail and wholesale sectors, with workers walking off the job in multiple states. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the ver.di union called for industrial action on June 19, targeting companies across the capital. A central rally gathered at Wittenbergplatz in the morning. In Lower Saxony, operations at Ikea in Oldenburg continued with reduced hours amid the protests.
The union is demanding a 7 percent wage increase for retail employees, with a minimum monthly gain of €222 to €225. A core negotiating point: a minimum hourly wage of €14.90, alongside higher pay for apprentices. Employers have so far countered with a 2 percent rise proposed for late 2026 and an additional 1.5 percent for autumn 2027 – an offer ver.di rejects as inadequate.
Yet even as these labor disputes simmer, the demand for low-hour workers remains intense. On June 20 alone, roughly 560 minijob positions were advertised in Düsseldorf alone, at retailers like Peek & Cloppenburg and REWE. Nationwide, the Federal Employment Agency reported more than 577,000 open minijob slots, spanning shelf-stocking at Lidl, cashier work, and logistics duties. Additional hundreds of part-time roles are available in cities such as Bamberg, Würzburg, and Jena, primarily in cleaning, sales, and delivery.
Against this backdrop, new regulations for Germany’s roughly seven million minijobbers take effect on July 1. Workers who previously opted out of mandatory pension insurance can reverse that decision once. The personal contribution is 3.6 percent of earnings. On the standard €603 monthly income threshold, that amounts to about €21.70 per month. In return, minijobbers regain eligibility for disability pensions, medical rehabilitation, and can satisfy vesting periods for old-age pensions faster. The application must be submitted in writing to the employer.
Additionally, the income allowance for widow’s pensions rises to a net €1,122.53. However, a tightening measure also kicks in: starting July, any pension surcharges from disability pensions will be fully counted against widow’s pensions, potentially reducing payments in some cases.
The long-term cost picture for employers is also shifting. Projections suggest that the flat-rate contributions companies pay for minijobs could jump from roughly 31 percent today to more than 38 percent by 2027, significantly increasing non-wage labor costs. Meanwhile, a government pension commission is expected to release a report on June 23 containing 30 recommendations to stabilize the system. Among the ideas under discussion is a gradual increase in the retirement age for certain occupational groups.
