Sector minimum wage
An industry minimum wage is a collectively agreed minimum wage declared binding by statutory instrument for all employers and employees in an industry.
As of:September 2026
Where the binding force comes from
The basis is the Posted Workers Act. The collective bargaining parties of an industry agree minimum rates, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs extends them to all businesses in the industry by statutory instrument under section 7 AEntG.
The rate therefore applies to businesses that belong to no employers' association and to employees who are not union members. The usual question of collective bargaining coverage does not arise here.
Where they exist
Among others in the main construction trade, roofing, the electrical trade, scaffolding, building cleaning, care, painting and varnishing, and waste management. The list changes, because the instruments are time-limited and have to be extended.
In building cleaning, from 1 January 2026 a uniform nationwide 15.00 euros applies in pay group 1 (interior and maintenance cleaning) and 18.40 euros in pay group 6 (glass and facade cleaning).
MetronHR works these figures out itself: time accounts, premiums, overtime and the limits of the German Working Hours Act, with every booking.
Liability for subcontractors
Anyone commissioning another business with works or services is liable under section 14 AEntG and section 13 MiLoG for its minimum pay like a guarantor who has waived the defence of failure to pursue the principal debtor. That applies along the whole chain.
In practice that means: anyone buying in cleaning, construction or security services should have compliance confirmed and keep the confirmation.
Example: two pay groups in one day
- Morning, maintenance cleaning, 4 hours: 4 × 15.00 euros = 60.00 euros.
- Afternoon, glass cleaning, 3 hours: 3 × 18.40 euros = 55.20 euros.
- Daily pay: 115.20 euros.
- Settling it uniformly at 15.00 euros would be 10.20 euros too low.
Common mistake
The statutory minimum wage gets applied because the business belongs to no association. The statutory instrument under section 7 AEntG does not ask about membership, and the difference has to be paid subsequently for up to three years.
Further reading
- Section 7 AEntG, section 14 AEntG
- Section 1(3) MiLoG, section 13 MiLoG
- Federal Guild Association of the Building Cleaning Trade, announcement of 29/12/2025
This is not legal advice; for a specific case at your workplace you are better off asking someone qualified to give it.
Published by: AMNAU GmbH
Editorial responsibility: Ugur Aydogan, Product development.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Knowing the terms is one thing. Settling them cleanly is another.
MetronHR keeps time accounts, calculates premiums and checks the limits of the German Working Hours Act automatically. Try it free for 14 days.
No credit card, cancel any time
Related terms
Minimum wage
The statutory minimum wage is the amount every employee can claim as a minimum per clock hour. Since 1 January 2026 it has been 13.90 euros gross.
Mini-job
A mini-job is marginal paid employment: the regular monthly pay does not exceed the marginal earnings threshold. In 2026 it is 603 euros a month.
Basic wage
The base wage is the ongoing pay due for regular working time, converted to one hour. It is the basis of assessment for premiums under section 3b EStG.