A planned increase in civil servant salaries is sparking debate, particularly concerning the cost to the state budget. One entrepreneur has called the proposed changes “madness.”
Kassel – The discussion surrounding appropriate pay for civil servants, recently brought to the forefront by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), stems from a long-standing discussion. In November, the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG, 2nd Senate) issued a significant ruling: the remuneration of civil servants in Berlin was, in fact, insufficiently commensurate with their office. This ruling is expected to soon lead to a nationwide increase in civil servant salaries.
Minister Dobrindt announced a timeline for the civil servant salary reform in mid-January, stating it was expected “in a few weeks.” “We will solve this quickly,” Dobrindt stated at the DBB annual conference in Cologne, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
Dobrindt emphasized that civil servant pay is not merely a question of cost, but rather a legal entitlement the state must fulfill – the right of civil servants to performance-based compensation. According to t-online, there will be “no excuses” in implementing the new remuneration.
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The planned reform aims to change the basis of calculation, requiring it to be at least 80 percent of the median income, whereas previously it only needed to be 15 percent above the standard rate for citizen’s allowance. The constitutional judges justified this by stating that civil servants in Germany must be able to live “without financial worries” and not be paid “precariously.”
While the exact figures for the planned increase are not yet finalized due to missing 2025 median income data, a look at the salary tables suggests that even at the lowest pay grade A3, 3000 euros or more could be possible. Currently, the remuneration for this group is 2707 euros gross.
Not everyone is convinced by these plans. Sarna Rösner, an entrepreneur and former chairwoman of the Young Entrepreneurs Association, criticized the growing gap between civil servant salaries and wages in the private sector: “Increasing civil servant salaries further is madness,” Rösner stated to Welt. She warned that companies already suffering from a shortage of skilled workers could face even greater competition from the public sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the planned increase in civil servant salaries?
A ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court in November determined that civil servant pay in Berlin was insufficiently commensurate with their office between 2008 and 2020.
When is the reform expected to be implemented?
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced a timeline for the reform in mid-January, stating it is expected “in a few weeks.”
What is the proposed new basis for calculating civil servant salaries?
The new calculation will be based on at least 80 percent of the median income, a significant increase from the previous standard of 15 percent above the standard rate for citizen’s allowance.
The financial impact on the state budget remains unclear, with civil servant salaries for 2026 estimated at around 23 billion euros. A previous draft law by Nancy Faeser (SPD) proposed annual additional costs of 150 million euros, but was not implemented. The federal government currently spends 45 billion euros per year on its personnel, including nearly 350,000 civil servants, judges, and soldiers. (Sources: Federal Constitutional Court, FAZ, t-online, dbb, Welt) (fh)
As the government moves forward with this reform, will the potential impact on the private sector and the overall state budget be adequately addressed?
