Germany to implement its first minimum wage

Chancellor Angela Merkel has approved the first minimum wage in Germany at 8.50 euros an hour, to start in 2015.

The country is currently one of just seven in the 28-nation EU without a minimum wage level, relying instead on trade unions and business groups to fix pay. The move was approved as part of a power-sharing deal with the Social Democrats (SPD), with economists championing the change as one which could greatly help to stimulate growth.

The wage will not cover minors, interns or trainees, and some employers using temporary or seasonal workers will have two years to phase in the new regulation.

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