Germany has introduced some significant adjustments in the minimum wage and holiday allowances for nurse assistants and registered nurses as of the second quarter of this year. These changes reflect the country’s commitment to improving the working conditions for healthcare professionals and addressing the critical shortage of nursing staff. The Healthcare Commission (Pflegekommission), which includes representatives from both employers and employees, makes bi-yearly recommendations to ensure healthcare working conditions are aligned with the economic and social trends of the country.
These adjustments are a vital recognition of the hard work done by healthcare professionals who care for senior patients. They also demonstrate Germany’s urgent need to attract additional healthcare experts to mitigate the current nursing shortage. These recent changes are also an excellent opportunity for international nurses who are highly skilled and eager to embark on new professional trajectories outside their home countries.
Since May 1st, 2024, healthcare workers can benefit from significant changes in their working conditions (for more guidelines on the conditions that must be met, you can download the official publication of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs here).
(1) Increased Minimum Wage
One of the most notable changes is the increase in the minimum wage for healthcare workers:
This wage increase is a crucial step in ensuring that healthcare workers are compensated fairly for their essential work.
(2) Extended Holiday Allowance
In addition to wage increases, there have been changes to the holiday allowance for nursing healthcare workers. The entitlement to paid vacation has been extended beyond the legal minimum. Nursing professionals are now entitled to 9 additional vacation days per calendar year for a five-day work week (total minimum amount of 29 days of holiday per year). However, if an employer already provides additional vacation days above the legal minimum, this new regulation does not apply.
The decisions made by the German commission consider several factors, including economic trends and the future prospects of the healthcare industry in Germany. To align with Germany’s urgent need to bridge the gap between supply and demand, the commission is committed to continuously assessing the conditions of healthcare workers. A future salary increase is also projected to occur in July 2025.
Senior care employment is an excellent professional entry point for qualified nurses looking to move to Germany. In addition to the recent salary and holiday allowances adjustments, there are several other benefits of working in nursing positions for newly arrived nurses:
Structured Routine: The highly structured and scheduled routine in senior care centers allows newly arrived nurses to have a smooth transition into their new life.
Language Improvement: Working with the same patients daily helps improve German language skills more efficiently.
Are you a nurse from abroad looking to come to Germany to work? Register today at CWC and embark on a fulfilling career in senior care in Germany.
Sources:
News and stories about nursing jobs in Europe
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