Stuttgart – A core promise of the CDU’s 2025 election campaign – that “work must pay” – is facing potential revision, as delegates at the party’s ongoing convention in Stuttgart have unanimously voted to seek an exemption to minimum wage laws for seasonal workers.
The proposal, stemming from a motion by the Südbaden district association, would allow for seasonal agricultural workers to be paid below the current national minimum wage. According to the AFP, the CDU is now officially advocating for the possibility of diverging from the minimum wage for seasonal workers in agriculture.
Disagreement Expected: CDU Seeks Minimum Wage Exceptions
Currently, German law stipulates that “every employee has a right to payment of at least the minimum wage.” However, the CDU’s move signals a potential shift in this policy. The decision is likely to trigger conflict with the party’s coalition partners, as previous debates regarding similar legislative adjustments have demonstrated. The CDU has reportedly been planning this change for some time.
The SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf, as quoted by Tagesschau, argued that the right to an “anti-poverty wage” should not be denied to seasonal workers. Opposition parties have also voiced strong criticism, with the Left party condemning similar proposals from the German Farmers’ Association as “despicable” and undermining fundamental labor standards.
CDU Cites Foreign Wages as Justification
Germany’s minimum wage rose to 13.90 euros with the new year and is slated to increase again to 14.60 euros in the coming year. Baden-Württemberg’s Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk (CDU) has expressed concern that this increase threatens the competitiveness of German agriculture, arguing that lowering labor costs is necessary to maintain agricultural production within the country.
The CDU justifies its proposal by stating that seasonal workers often pay fewer taxes and social contributions than full-time employees. Many of these workers come from abroad, where hourly wages are already lower than Germany’s minimum wage, and still exceed local standards.
Seasonal Workers Crucial to Agriculture
The agricultural sector is heavily reliant on seasonal labor. According to the Federal Statistical Office, approximately 28 percent of all workers in agriculture – a total of 242,800 people – are seasonal workers. A significant portion of these workers (44 percent) are women, compared to 32 percent among permanent employees and family workers.
Many areas of agriculture remain unautomated, requiring manual labor for tasks like harvesting asparagus, berries, and apples. These jobs often involve strenuous physical effort, and the industry’s labor shortage makes foreign workers essential.
The German Farmers’ Association has previously called for an complete to minimum wage requirements for seasonal workers, a position the Federal Ministry of Agriculture rejected in July 2025. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has also opposed the move, stating that a general minimum wage should apply to all workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CDU proposing?
The CDU is proposing that seasonal workers in agriculture be exempt from Germany’s minimum wage laws.
Why is the CDU making this proposal?
The CDU argues that lowering labor costs for seasonal workers is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of German agriculture and that wages in workers’ home countries are often lower.
What is the current minimum wage in Germany?
The minimum wage in Germany is currently 13.90 euros and is scheduled to increase to 14.60 euros in the coming year.
As this debate unfolds, will the CDU’s proposal gain traction, or will resistance from coalition partners and labor groups ultimately prevent a change to Germany’s minimum wage laws?
