- Germany increased its statutory minimum wage to €13.90 per hour (about KSh 2,085) on 1 January 2026, with a further increase to €14.60 (about KSh 2,190) scheduled for 1 January 2027
- The minimum wage generally covers employees working in Germany, including foreign nationals, part-time employees, mini-jobbers and seasonal workers
- Five categories are excluded under specific conditions, including certain workers under 18 and some interns undertaking mandatory or short-term placements
Germany has increased its statutory minimum wage to €13.90 gross per hour (about KSh 2,085), setting the minimum hourly pay that most employees must receive under the country's labour laws.
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According to the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the new rate took effect on 1 January 2026, replacing the previous minimum wage. A further increase to €14.60 per hour (about KSh 2,190) is scheduled for 1 January 2027.
Germany introduced its general statutory minimum wage on 1 January 2015 and has revised the rate several times since then.
Who qualifies for Germany's minimum wage?
The minimum wage generally applies to employees working in Germany, regardless of their nationality or the number of hours they work.
This means eligible foreign workers, including Kenyans and other African nationals employed in Germany, are covered by the same statutory minimum wage rules as other employees.
The coverage also includes:
- Part-time employees: Workers employed for fewer hours are generally entitled to the minimum hourly rate.
- Mini-jobbers: Employees in marginal employment arrangements are covered by the minimum wage rules.
- Seasonal workers: Employees hired for seasonal work are generally entitled to the statutory minimum.
- Foreign employees: Eligible workers employed in Germany by German or overseas companies are covered by the rules.
The minimum wage entitlement generally extends to all hours worked, including qualifying overtime hours.
Employers must pay wages by the agreed deadline and, under the rules outlined in the source, no later than the last banking day of the month following the month in which the work was performed. Where the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, payment must be made on the preceding working day.
Although the minimum wage covers most employees, German labour law provides exemptions for five categories under specific conditions.
1. Workers under 18 without completed vocational training
Employees younger than 18 who have not completed vocational training are excluded from the statutory minimum wage entitlement.
2. Certain long-term unemployed people
Workers who were long-term unemployed immediately before starting a new job may be excluded from the minimum wage requirement during their first six months of employment.
The exemption is limited to that initial period.
3. Interns completing mandatory placements
Interns undertaking placements required by their school, vocational training programme or university course are excluded under the specified exemption.
4. Certain interns undertaking placements alongside their studies
The exemption also covers voluntary internships that accompany ongoing vocational training or university studies, subject to the applicable conditions.
5. Interns on short orientation placements
Interns undertaking orientation placements lasting no more than three months may also fall within the exemption.
These exceptions are specific and do not mean that all young workers, unemployed people or interns are automatically excluded from minimum wage protection as reported by Yen News.
What the increase means for foreign workers
For Kenyans and other African nationals working in Germany, the higher minimum wage establishes the statutory hourly pay floor for jobs covered by the law.
Workers should check their payslips against the applicable rate and confirm whether their employment arrangement falls under an exemption. The minimum wage is a gross figure, meaning deductions such as income tax and social contributions may reduce the amount received in take-home pay.
Germany lists jobs available to foreign workers
TUKO.co.ke reported that Germany’s Opportunity Card allows eligible non-EU nationals to enter the country and search for employment without having a job offer beforehand.
Applicants must meet the applicable qualification or points-based requirements and demonstrate that they can support themselves financially.
The scheme provides a potential pathway for skilled foreign workers, including Kenyans, to explore employment opportunities in Germany.
Source: TUKO.co.ke